Armenia – a country with unique traditions and customs, whose national identity is especially emphasized during its distinctive folk, religious, and state celebrations. This is a wonderful reason to visit Armenia.
We are talking about the most important events in history and national memorial days. This also includes some folk, traditional, religious, and professional holidays that have been designated by the state and the Armenian Apostolic Church.
New Year and Christmas holidays are celebrated from December 31st to January 6th, with these days being non-working.
Army Day falls on January 28th. In 1992, the Ministry of Defense of Armenia was established on this day, and it is a non-working day.
Saint Vardan Mamikonian (Vardanants) Day is a day of virtue and national tribute celebrated 8 weeks before Holy Easter on a Friday.
International Women’s Day is observed on March 8th. It is an international holiday that has been celebrated since 1911, thanks to the initiative of the German and international labor movement activist Clara Zetkin, and it is a non-working day.
Maternity and Beauty Day is celebrated on April 7th, marking the Annunciation of the Holy Virgin Mary. It symbolizes the Annunciation of the sacred pregnancy of the Virgin Mary.
Labor Day is observed on May 1st, an international holiday established in 1890 as a day of international workers’ solidarity, and it is a non-working day.
“Erkrapah” Day is celebrated on May 8th and was established in 2002 to commemorate the liberation of Shushi on May 8-9, 1992.
Victory Day is observed on May 9th, commemorating the victory of the USSR over fascist Germany. In Armenia, it is celebrated as a recognition of the Armenian people’s contribution to this victory, and it is a non-working day.
First Republic of Armenia Day is celebrated on May 28th. In 1918, Armenia’s independent statehood was restored on this day, leading to the declaration of the First Republic of Armenia, and it is a non-working day.
International Children’s Day is observed on June 1st and has been celebrated since 1950. Its purpose is to protect children from the threat of war, ensure their health, and guarantee their rights to quality education and upbringing.
Constitution Day of Armenia is celebrated on July 5th. In 1995, Armenia’s constitution was adopted through a nationwide referendum on this day, and it is a non-working day.
Knowledge Day is celebrated on September 1st, marking the beginning of the school year.
Independence Day of Armenia is observed on September 21st. In 1991, Armenia’s independence was declared through a nationwide referendum on this day, and it is a non-working day.
Teacher’s Day is celebrated on October 5th, and it is a non-working day.
Tarkmanchats is the Translator’s Day, celebrated on the second Saturday of October. The holiday symbolizes the invention of the Armenian alphabet, the first translation of the Gospel into Armenian, and the beginning of Armenian enlightenment.
In Armenia, April 24th is observed as a day of remembrance for the victims of the Armenian Genocide, perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire and the Kemalist government. In 1915, on this day in Constantinople, approximately 800 representatives of the Armenian intelligentsia were arrested, with most of them brutally murdered, while others perished on their way to exile. It is a day of solemn reflection.
December 7th is dedicated to the memory of the earthquake victims in Armenia. This day commemorates the 25,000 lives lost in the devastating earthquake that struck Spitak in 1988.
Armenia also celebrates various other notable days, including Armenian Language Day, Yerevan Day, Satire and Humor Day, Press Day, Radio Day, Theater Day, Museum Day, a day in memory of the organized killings of Armenians in Azerbaijan in 1988, and a day dedicated to the protection of the rights of Armenian refugees. These days hold special significance in Armenian culture and history.
National and religious holidays in Armenia encompass both traditional religious and folk celebrations that originated primarily in the pre-Christian era and later adapted to the Christian calendar while preserving a set of customs and rituals linked to ancient ceremonies and beliefs.
Religious holidays are dedicated to Jesus Christ, the Holy Mother of God, the Holy Cross, saints, prominent national figures, and significant events.
New Year is the first national holiday chronologically. Until the 19th century, Armenians considered Navasard (Armenian New Year), a movable feast celebrated from August to October-November, as the beginning of the year. In the 19th century, according to Simeon Yerevantsi’s calendar, Navasard was replaced by the New Year, which became the official start of the year, fixed on January 1st as a non-movable holiday.
Non-movable holidays such as Christmas and Epiphany, the Blessing of Water and the Baptism of the Lord, are observed on January 6th and symbolize the birth and baptism of Christ. The latter is the first among the five main feasts of the Lord. On January 6th, following the Christmas liturgy and reminiscent of an ancient practice where people would cast something precious into flowing water and make secret wishes (since water purifies both the earth and man), the Armenian Church conducts the ceremony of the Blessing of Water, immersing the Holy Cross in the water.
St. Sarkis Day is a holiday that involves the interpretation of mysterious dreams for young lovers and the prediction of their destiny. It is celebrated 63 days before Holy Easter, typically from January 18th to February 23rd, on a Saturday.
Terendez is a non-movable holiday, celebrated on the 14th of February (beginning on the evening of the 13th of February). It commemorates the moment when the parents of the 40-day-old Jesus brought him to the temple and were met by the elder Simeon. This origin story gives the holiday its traditional name, “Terendez,” which translates from Armenian as “Turning to the Lord.” It is considered a harbinger of spring, a bountiful harvest, and the well-being of newlyweds, symbolizing fertility. The central ritual of the holiday is the lighting of a bonfire, believed to ward off evil. Young newlyweds jump over the bonfire to ensure the realization of their wishes, a prosperous year, and for women to become mothers. In all Armenian churches, there is a ceremony of blessing the young couples, overseen by the Catholicos of all Armenians.
Berekendan marks the two-week-long festivities leading up to Great Lent, including national dances, theatrical performances, weddings, and banquets. This grand celebration signals the beginning of spring blossoming. Notably, the Thursday of the second week and ”Bun Berekendan”, the final day of the festival, are of special significance. Thursday is a day dedicated to remembering the deceased, and in the Armenian ecclesiastical calendar, it is observed as the day of the fallen Vardanants.
Great Lent follows the last day of Bun Berekendan. It represents a period of seven weeks of self-examination, purification, and abstinence, during which joyful ceremonies, engagements, and weddings are typically avoided. The period involves a strict dietary regimen, primarily consisting of plant-based foods.
Tsakhazard (or Palm Sunday) is observed during the sixth week of Great Lent and symbolizes the blooming of nature. The central rite of the day is the blessing of the first flowering willow branches and young greens. It also holds the significance of Christ’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem when people enthusiastically welcomed Him, spreading green palm and olive branches on the road. The Armenian Church has declared Tsakhazard as a day for blessing children.
The 7th week of Lent is known as Holy Week, considered the final week of worship. Each day holds its own significance. On Great Saturday, Chragaluyts (lighting of candles) takes place, and during the Divine Liturgy, the Resurrection of Christ is proclaimed.
Holy Easter (Zatik in Armenian) is the second of the major Armenian Church holidays, a moveable feast celebrated on the first Sunday after the spring full moon, falling between March 21 and April 26, with a variation of up to 35 days. The dates of all Armenian moveable feasts are determined by the date of Holy Easter.
The Armenian “Zatik” signifies separation from and liberation from torment. Initially, it was a pagan celebration. With the adoption of Christianity, “Zatik” merged with the Bright Resurrection of Christ, symbolizing the unbroken life, with the egg representing the source of life for many living creatures. The red color of the eggs symbolizes the blood shed by Christ for the salvation of the world. The day following Holy Easter, like all major church holidays, is a day of remembrance for the deceased, known as “Merelots.”
Ascension Day, marking the resurrection of Christ from the dead and His receiving of eternal life with His Father, occurs 40 days after Christ’s Resurrection. This day is also known as the Day of Divination or “Katnapuri Or” (milk soup day), a day when young people guess their fate.
Vardavar (Transfiguration) is the third of the major Armenian Church holidays and is observed 14 weeks after Holy Easter, typically at the end of July. According to Christian tradition, Vardavar coincides with the Transfiguration of Jesus Christ. The popular holiday has much older origins and is associated with the cult of water. People adorn themselves with roses and other flowers, splash each other with water, release white doves into the sky, and pray for rain to nourish the parched land. The ceremonial fruit of the day is the apple, which is consecrated in the church and made available for consumption.
Assumption of the Holy Mother of God is a day of remembrance for the departure of the Virgin Mary to heaven. It is the fourth major Armenian Church holiday, observed on the nearest Sunday to August 15. On this day, people bring the first grapes to the church for blessing, giving rise to the folk name “Khaghoghornek,” which translates to “The Blessing of Grapes.” This ritual is also a tribute to the Holy Mother.
Exaltation of the Holy Cross (Khachverats, Sbhech, Ulots) is the fifth and final significant church holiday, celebrated on the nearest Sunday to September 14. On this day, people visit the graves of their loved ones and traditionally roast goat meat. In Christian times, this holiday was associated with the story of the return of the Holy Cross from captivity, thus acquiring a new meaning.
All these national holidays were celebrated with songs, dances, and storytelling. The works were cultivated and presented to the people by poets, writers, composers, artists, and others. A prime example of their work is the description of the Ascension in the poem “Anush.”
