Today marks the Vardavar holiday: The authorities urge to refrain from traditional celebrations

The Armenian Apostolic Church celebrates Vardavar today, July 19, which commemorates the Transfiguration of Jesus Christ. Vardavar is one of the five major feasts of the Armenian Apostolic Church. This movable feast is celebrated 98 days after Easter. The holiday has its roots in pagan times and has likely been one of the favorite holidays of the Armenians.

In certain regions of Armenia, such as Lori and Tavush, Vardavar is celebrated with a fixed calendar on the last Sunday of July. Vardavar is a water festival, and on this day, in addition to feasting, singing, and dancing, people pour water on each other. The church explains this tradition by recalling that when Noah descended from Mount Ararat to Nakhchivan, he ordered his descendants to pour water on each other every year on this day to keep the memory of the flood alive.

Traditionally, people visit the mountains for pilgrimage during Vardavar, where the rivers and springs originate. Festivities take place near the water sources, where sacrifices are made, games are held, and celebrations occur.

This year, the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Armenia, considering the epidemiological situation in the country and the risk of spreading the coronavirus, urges citizens to refrain from celebrating Vardavar in the traditional manner, to avoid crowded places, and to refrain from participating in events that may lead to large gatherings of people.

Deputy Prime Minister and Chief of the Emergency Situation Management Directorate, Tigran Avinyan, also called on the public to avoid the temptation of celebrating Vardavar in the traditional way.