Vardavar Every year, 14 weeks after Easter, Armenians celebrate
Vardavar (Վարդավար), a lively festival where people soak each other with water using hoses, buckets, spray guns, and other tools. Regardless of who you are or where you are, you will get wet if you are out and about during Vardavar. The origins of Vardavar trace back to ancient
Armenian pagan traditions. Historically, on this day known as Water Day, Armenians made offerings of red roses to
Astłik, the goddess of water, beauty, love, and fertility. The name "Vardavar" itself is a blend of the words "vard" (meaning "rose") and "var" (meaning "burn") in Armenian. Despite its pagan roots, Vardavar has been seamlessly integrated into Christian Armenian culture. Following Armenia's conversion to Christianity in 301 AD, the explicit pagan elements were removed from the celebration. However, the festival's essence, symbolized by the joyous and communal water splashing, remains a beloved tradition.
Armenian Earthquake Memorial Day Armenian Earthquake Memorial Day is a day of remembrance in
Armenia for the
earthquake of magnitude 6.9 on the
Richter scale that struck in northwest Armenia (then part of the
Soviet Union) on 7 December 1988. The earthquake damaged much of the country's infrastructure, especially in the cities of
Spitak, Leninakan (now
Gyumri), Kirovakan (now
Vanadzor), and
Stepanavan, along with other small towns and villages near the
epicenter. Each year, 7 December is recognized by the government of Armenia (and the
de facto government of
Nagorno-Karabakh) as a day of remembrance of the tragedies that stemmed from the earthquake in 1988.
Motherhood and Beauty Day Motherhood and beauty day () is an official holiday in
Armenia dedicated to women. While March 8 celebrates all women, April 7 is mother's day. April 7 is the
Feast of the Annunciation in the calendar of the
Armenian Apostolic Church. It is expected to give presents to one's own
mother. Celebrating each woman as beautiful in her own way, mothers are particularly happy to receive
flowers. ==See also==