A freespirited people, Kytherians connect their everyday life with the arts, apparent in their rich tradition of music, song and dance. Influences from Crete and Eptanissos form the Kytherian tradition. Sensual lyrics, warm melodies and spirited dancing set the spark of life and joy.
The lithographer Vassilis Haros and the painter Manolis Haros are the modern artists that Tsirigo has to offer. In literature, the Eptanissos School of the 19th century produces Emmanuel Stais, Josef Kaloutsis, Georgios Mormoris and others. Panos Fillis is the modern poet of Kythera who, in his poetic collections, catches the fleeting impression of today's life on the island with its good and bad sides. The contributions of the municipal teacher Ioannis P. Kassimatis, who recorded the traditional Kytherian folklore in his books, is equally of great local significance.
Kytherian music is based on the poetic rhyme verse. Directly connected with religion, Byzantine music and Venetian and Cretan influences, most of the songs have a 2/4, 3/4 rhythm. The instruments lute and violin are traditionally used in Kytherian music. With its melodies and variety, Kytherian song covers almost all types of folk song. There is, however, no documentation of historical song as found in Eptanissos. Instead, akritika (folk songs about "Akrites", the brave warriors that defended the borders of the Byzantine empire) such as “Ai-Giorgis”, religious verse such as the introit of Panayia Mirtidiotissa and the dirge “Today the sky is black” (Simera mavros ouranos) are typical genre examples. A well-known folk song, “Erotokritos”, was brought to the island by the Cretans. The rhymes with their verse of fifteen syllables are very common and, of course, also originate from Crete. The serenades from Zakinthos have also preserved. Finally, many songs composed in couplets of quatrains thematise love and foreign lands.
Kytherian dances are pleasant, brisk and melodic. The movements are supple, with various improvisations and variations. Usually starting on a calm, slow rhythm they quickly pick up speed toward fast-paced, more intense movements. They are nostalgic dances with a soft velvet step and light lifting of feet. Many local "balos" dances resemble the traditional Cretan “balos”. There are also many “syrtos” dances. “Ai-Giorgis”, Kythera's traditional dance, is danced like in Corfu, as are “bourdaris”, “pentozalis”, “Panayiotena” and “Kalamatianos”. The costumes are breeches for men and “spaleto” for women. European dances like the Fox-Anglese, waltz and tango are also danced on Kythera.
