Armenian Festivals and Holidays
Yerevan Basics :
January 28: On January 28, Armenia celebrates National Army Day, to commemorate the founding of the armed forces of the newly independent Republic of Armenia in 1992.
February 14: Tiarnendaraj or Trndez (Candlemas Day), meaning “coming forward to the Lord,” is a religious holiday celebrated on February 14, 40 days after January 6. When Christ was 40 days old, His parents brought him to the temple in Jerusalem to present Him forward to the Lord.
Believed to symbolize the coming of spring, rich harvest, goodness, prosperity of newlyweds, and as it is the symbol of fertility, the main ritual of the feast is the lighting of a bonfire, representing God’s light (‘fire rids evil’). Traditionally, the young and the newlyweds would jump over the fire so that their wishes came true, and so that the year would bring fertile crops and turn women into mothers.
February/March: Bun Barekendan (bari=good, kendan(i)=alive; living) is celebrated on the Sunday before the Great Lent begins.
Its equivalents in western traditions are Mardi Gras or Carnival. The holiday is marked by festive celebrations in which people play games, dress up in traditional roles, and play jokes. There is an abundance of nutritious as well as fatty food, and drink. Since Great Lent begins the day after, Barekendan is the day afterwhich joy and pleasures are meant to be left behind until the festive celebration of Easter.