New Year's Day in Armenia

Posted by CelebrateZone.com on Thu, May 11, 2023

New Year’s Day in Armenia

New Year’s Day is a holiday in Armenia.

When is New Year’s Day in Armenia

New Year’s Day is celebrated on 01, January, 2023 in Armenia.

About New Year’s Day in Armenia

New Year’s Day is a public holiday in Armenia celebrated on January 1st. It is a time for families and friends to gather and celebrate the start of the new year. In Armenian tradition, the new year is celebrated for a full week, beginning on New Year’s Eve and ending on January 6th, known as the Feast of the Holy Nativity and Theophany.

On New Year’s Day, Armenians typically exchange gifts, eat traditional foods, and attend church services. Many families also decorate their homes with festive decorations, including lights, ornaments, and Christmas trees.

One of the most popular traditions during the New Year’s Day holiday in Armenia is the lighting of bonfires. People gather around these fires to sing and dance, and to enjoy traditional Armenian foods like barbequed meats and lavash bread.

Another important aspect of the New Year’s Day holiday in Armenia is the custom of making wishes. Armenians believe that if they make a wish at midnight on New Year’s Eve, it will come true in the coming year.

Overall, the New Year’s Day holiday in Armenia is a time for celebration, reflection, and hope for the future.

History of New Year’s Day in Armenia

New Year’s Day, known as Navasard, has been celebrated in Armenia since ancient times. It was originally celebrated on the first day of the Armenian calendar, which was based on the Zoroastrian calendar. The Armenian calendar was later modified to be based on the Julian calendar, and the New Year’s Day was moved to January 1st.

During the Soviet era, the celebration of New Year’s Day was discouraged, and instead, the celebration of the Soviet Revolution was promoted. However, after Armenia gained independence in 1991, the celebration of New Year’s Day was revived and became an important holiday in the country.

Today, New Year’s Day is celebrated with family gatherings, feasting, and fireworks. The tradition of decorating a New Year’s tree, similar to a Christmas tree, is also popular in Armenia. The holiday is a time for reflection on the past year and setting goals for the new year.

How is New Year’s Day celebrated in Armenia

New Year’s Day is celebrated in Armenia with great enthusiasm and joy. The celebrations begin on New Year’s Eve, which is known as “Surp Dzununt” or “Holy Birth”. People decorate their homes with lights, ornaments, and a Christmas tree. They also prepare traditional Armenian dishes such as “Khorovats” (barbecue), “Dolma” (stuffed grape leaves), and “Khash” (a soup made with cow’s feet).

At midnight, people gather with their families and friends to watch the fireworks display. They also exchange gifts and share a toast with champagne or cognac. The tradition of breaking plates is also observed, where people smash plates on the ground to symbolize the breaking of bad luck and the start of a new year.

On New Year’s Day, people continue to celebrate with feasting, music, and dancing. It is also customary to visit family and friends and exchange greetings and gifts. The celebrations continue for several days, culminating in the Armenian Christmas on January 6th.

Dates

New Year’s Day will be celebrated in Armenia on 2023-01-01, 2023-01-02, 2024-01-01, 2024-01-02, 2025-01-01, 2025-01-02, 2026-01-01, 2026-01-02, 2027-01-01, 2027-01-02 in the comming years.