Armenian Festivals and Holidays
Yerevan Basics :
February-March/March-April: Great Lent (Medz Bahk) follows the last day of Bun Barekendan. During the period of Great Lent, people should purify and abstain from sins and bodily pleasures in order to be prepared for the Feast of Jesus Christ's Resurrection. Moreover, engagements, marriages, and other happy events are not held during this period, and people should refrain also from food derived from animals, using only food of plant origin. Moral, bodily and spiritual abstinence are very important during the Lenten period. The Armenian Church fathers refer to the Great Lent also as Karasnordats, as its period lasts for 40 days.
March/April: Palm Sunday (Tsaghkazard) is celebrated on the 6th week of Lent and symbolizes the blossoming of nature. It is a religious holiday and symbolizes also Christ’s entry into Jerusalem as the Messiah, when
people covered the road with green palm and olive branches. The blessing ritual of the first osier and greens is held by the Armenian Church. The Armenian Church also marks this day as Children’s Blessing Day.