Holidays in Armenia are intense. Some more than others, but holidays here really dictate many things about life across the country. The be-all-and-end all of Armenian holidays is Nor Tari (New Years) which isn’t merely a party held at midnight on the 31st where champagne is drank and kisses distributed. It’s a weeklong event where if you don’t hate yourself at the end, you didn’t do it right!
I celebrated Nor Tari in full Armenian style last year but when 2014 began to draw to a close, I knew I didn’t have the energy to do it again. I took off to Georgia and spent a beautiful week in Tbilisi. Below are a few photos of that wonderful, relaxing trip where I did minimal sightseeing but spent maximum time relaxing, reflecting and getting reenergized to finish my service strong.
I celebrated Nor Tari in full Armenian style last year but when 2014 began to draw to a close, I knew I didn’t have the energy to do it again. I took off to Georgia and spent a beautiful week in Tbilisi. Below are a few photos of that wonderful, relaxing trip where I did minimal sightseeing but spent maximum time relaxing, reflecting and getting reenergized to finish my service strong.
So while I managed to successfully avoid most of Nor Tari this year on purpose, no list of Armenian holidays would be complete without talking about it.
Nor Tari – December 31st-January 6th
New Years celebrations in Armenia begin on December 31st and ring in the new years with fireworks at midnight. At midnight Santa Claus (Dzmer Papik) comes and brings the children presents and toasts are done. Last year the champagne cork got away from Carin and we still have a dent in the ceiling! While that is all fun, the real celebrations do not begin until the morning of January 1st. Non stop from the time you wake up in the morning to the time you pass out until the 6th you visit every friend or family members’ home imaginable, eat all their food and host visitors at your home. There is dancing, eating, drinking, eating, cooking, eating, cleaning and more eating. Did I mention the fact that you eat a lot? Making any resolution to diet or lose weight is absolutely impossible for Nor Tari.
New Years celebrations in Armenia begin on December 31st and ring in the new years with fireworks at midnight. At midnight Santa Claus (Dzmer Papik) comes and brings the children presents and toasts are done. Last year the champagne cork got away from Carin and we still have a dent in the ceiling! While that is all fun, the real celebrations do not begin until the morning of January 1st. Non stop from the time you wake up in the morning to the time you pass out until the 6th you visit every friend or family members’ home imaginable, eat all their food and host visitors at your home. There is dancing, eating, drinking, eating, cooking, eating, cleaning and more eating. Did I mention the fact that you eat a lot? Making any resolution to diet or lose weight is absolutely impossible for Nor Tari.
Christmas – January 6th
This is not a typo. Christmas here, and everywhere else that uses the Gregorian Calendar, is January 6th. While technically it is “sourp tdnund” it is really just a normal day. It isn’t celebrated more than putting up a tree and decorating it. It doesn’t resemble anything like America’s celebrations of the same holiday at all!
This is not a typo. Christmas here, and everywhere else that uses the Gregorian Calendar, is January 6th. While technically it is “sourp tdnund” it is really just a normal day. It isn’t celebrated more than putting up a tree and decorating it. It doesn’t resemble anything like America’s celebrations of the same holiday at all!
Cemetery Day – January 7th
On the day after Christmas, when celebrations from Nor Tari are settling down families (in my family, only the women) go to the cemetery where they pay homage to their deceased relatives. This is one of the many death traditions that are followed. After a relative dies, the wake is in their home where they place the casket outside of the door and leave 1 light on. After a few days the body is buried but the light stays on for 40 days. They then have a celebration for that party at the 40-day mark. Another celebration is held at the 1 year mark of their death and then all future celebrations for the dead fall on cemetery day, January 7th.
On the day after Christmas, when celebrations from Nor Tari are settling down families (in my family, only the women) go to the cemetery where they pay homage to their deceased relatives. This is one of the many death traditions that are followed. After a relative dies, the wake is in their home where they place the casket outside of the door and leave 1 light on. After a few days the body is buried but the light stays on for 40 days. They then have a celebration for that party at the 40-day mark. Another celebration is held at the 1 year mark of their death and then all future celebrations for the dead fall on cemetery day, January 7th.
Army Day - January 28th
Because you’ve gotta celebrate your army! If my memory serves me right, nothing actually happens on this day aside from getting off of work. It’s similar to our Veterans Day.
Because you’ve gotta celebrate your army! If my memory serves me right, nothing actually happens on this day aside from getting off of work. It’s similar to our Veterans Day.
St. Sarkis Day - February 13th I really love this day. Not because it’s going to be a major day in my personal life but because I love the idea behind this holiday. Again, I don’t know the deep-rooted meanings behind this holiday, but on this day each year small fires are lit around the country. You then grab the hand of someone you love and jump over that fire together. If you make it safely to the other side, you’ll be together forever, having taken a metaphorical risk together. Valentines Day – February 14th It’s Valentines Day. Take a random guess about what this holiday is about. |
Women’s Day - March 8th
I remember being told about this day and thinking, “ok that’s nice.” But I was not prepared. It’s Mother’s Day on steroids. Everyone buys flower, calls the women they love and pamper them for 1 whole day. I could vent until I’m blue in the face about my opinions of how I see the treatment of women in this country but at least for 1 day all women (mothers or not) are treated as treasures.
Work Day - May 1st
Think Labor Day. Everyone gets this day “off” but if it falls on a weekday (like any holiday) you then have to go to work on Saturday to make it up.
1st Independence Day – July 5th
This day celebrates the 1st independence day of Armenia in 1918 when it became a free country for the first time. Until that point it had always been ruled by a foreign empire. It didn’t last though and they became apart of the Soviet Union 2 years later.
I remember being told about this day and thinking, “ok that’s nice.” But I was not prepared. It’s Mother’s Day on steroids. Everyone buys flower, calls the women they love and pamper them for 1 whole day. I could vent until I’m blue in the face about my opinions of how I see the treatment of women in this country but at least for 1 day all women (mothers or not) are treated as treasures.
Work Day - May 1st
Think Labor Day. Everyone gets this day “off” but if it falls on a weekday (like any holiday) you then have to go to work on Saturday to make it up.
1st Independence Day – July 5th
This day celebrates the 1st independence day of Armenia in 1918 when it became a free country for the first time. Until that point it had always been ruled by a foreign empire. It didn’t last though and they became apart of the Soviet Union 2 years later.
Vartavar – July (70 days after Easter)
Vartavar is my all time favorite holiday in the entire world. I could tell you the complex biblical reasoning behind the holiday or I could tell you that everyone uses the day to drench each other in water. Old women throw buckets out of windows on to people on the street. Kids chase cars with hoses. Workers carry water bottles with them, prepared to strike at any moment. Last year I filled up some water balloons and prepared a trap for Bella that was just fantastic. I have never had more fun on a holiday, nor seen a holiday that was so comprehensively celebrated by everyone in the country. So all of you in America better remember this day because I sure will and will not hesitate to celebrate it with or without your consent!
Vartavar is my all time favorite holiday in the entire world. I could tell you the complex biblical reasoning behind the holiday or I could tell you that everyone uses the day to drench each other in water. Old women throw buckets out of windows on to people on the street. Kids chase cars with hoses. Workers carry water bottles with them, prepared to strike at any moment. Last year I filled up some water balloons and prepared a trap for Bella that was just fantastic. I have never had more fun on a holiday, nor seen a holiday that was so comprehensively celebrated by everyone in the country. So all of you in America better remember this day because I sure will and will not hesitate to celebrate it with or without your consent!
2nd Independence Day – September 21st
Yup. There are two. This day celebrates the Armenian independence from the Soviet Union in 1992. It has been a free country ever since.
? - October 5th
In the words of Christine, who helped me compile this list, “There’s a holiday on this day, but I don’t remember what it is. There are too many to remember them all!” I completely agree.
And then you have a few months of rest leading up to Nor Tari, where you complete the cycle!
Yup. There are two. This day celebrates the Armenian independence from the Soviet Union in 1992. It has been a free country ever since.
? - October 5th
In the words of Christine, who helped me compile this list, “There’s a holiday on this day, but I don’t remember what it is. There are too many to remember them all!” I completely agree.
And then you have a few months of rest leading up to Nor Tari, where you complete the cycle!