Some of the traditional professions of Linou are the vraka dyer (vraka is a cloth of the traditional apparel of Cyprus, especially for men), the plough manufacturer and the manufacturer of wooden-carved furniture. The vraka dyer was responsible for the dying of the “vraka”. The plough manufacturer and the manufacturer of wooden-carved furniture were occupied with the elaboration of wood. More specifically, the first manufactured the basic agriculture tool, the plough, and the latter decorated wooden furniture.

The vraka dyer is one of the oldest profession in Linou and it was related to the traditional apparel of Cyprus. This profession has gradually disappeared as the traditional “vraka” was replaced with the pants.

The dying of the “vraka” had many stages and its preparation lasted approximately one week.

The first step of the whole process was the washing of the fabric and then the dyer took a piece of wooden slab the so called “faouta” and hit the vraka in order to open its fibres, which would absorb the water easily. The water would clean the dust and the color.

The “vrakes” were put in big cauldrons, which were full of extracts of roses, and they remained there for two hours. Later on and after they were well boiled, the “vrakes” were transferred in a vessel called “taarin”. The “vrakes” remained in this vessel for one night (8 to 12 hours).

The next morning the “vrakes” were washed and then they were exposed to the sun until they were completely dry. The dyer put a number on each “vraka” in order to know the name of the owner. The same night they were put for one more time in the “pithari” where ferrous sulphate was added. Thus, the “vrakes” got a grey color. This process was repeated 2 or 3 times and the dyer added rose water which offered to the clothes their black color. Every time they put the “vrakes” in the “pithari” with the mixture of ferrous sulphate and rose water, the “vrakes” got a darker shade of black.

After the above procedure, the “vrakes” were squeezed until all the water came out. Then they were washed for one more time, hit them and then they were exposed to the sun. The color should be steady so that it won’t come out.

The cost for the dying was estimated according to the weight of the “vraka”. The inhabitants of Linou, usually bought “vrakes” during Christmas and Easter. The economic status of the villagers was shown from the quantity of their clothes.

During the 50’s, the fashion has changed and defined the use of pants. Thus, the profession of the dyer was gradually abandoned.

Another profession, which survived in the village, was the manufacturer of wooden-carved furniture. This profession was extremely difficult and it defined constant concentration and devotion from the manufacturer, in order to accomplish the right decoration. There were a big variety of designs. Some of them were: plants, flowers, birds, etc, and they were always chosen by the client.

Some of the tools that the manufacturer of wooden-carved furniture used were the “simadoura”, the “plania” and the “roukania”. The “simadoura” helped the manufacturer to mark the designs on the wood. The “plania” was responsible for the smoothing of the wood and the “roukania” removed the rough surface of the wood so that it could be easily graven.

The profession of the manufacturer of wooden-carved furniture has been almost abandoned, as the traditional tools have been replaced with contemporary machines. In Linou there were many manufacturers and the inhabitants had many wooden carved furniture in their houses.

The manufacture of plough is related to the increased agricultural needs of the area, especially in the past. The contribution of the plough manufacturer in the agricultural production was great and he had a vital role in the village.

The plough manufacturer undertook the creation of the plough or the fixing of its broken parts. A plough was considered good when it had the ability to balance on the earth. If it was not steady, the farmer would need more power to do his job.

The basic parts of the plough are the beam, the shoe and the “spathi” (a small piece of wood) which holds the two other parts tied together. The shoe is actually a wooden piece on which the share is based. The beam is a piece of thick and arched wood which is fixed on the shoe. The other parts of the plough are fixed either on the beam or on the shoe according to their use.

The plough manufacturer shaped one part of the beam according to the use he desired, for example semination or cultivation of the land. The weight of the plough was very important because the penetration of the share was actually based on it.
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Undoubtedly, the profession of the plough manufacturer was one of the most important in this agricultural village. The profession has disappeared after the industrialization.

Linou is one of the villages that had many traditional professions. Their contribution was huge, especially in previous years when the technological capacities were restricted.