New Year’s Day (Day 3) in Armenia ― Date, History, and Details
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History of New Year’s Day (Day 3) in Armenia and How to Celebrate/ Observe It
Armenia celebrates New Year’s Day on January 1st, which is also the first day of the Armenian calendar year. The holiday is a time for Armenians to come together and celebrate with feasts, music, and dance. Many people also exchange gifts and visit relatives on New Year’s Day.
The Armenian New Year’s celebration has its roots in an ancient pagan festival called Navasard. Navasard was a time when people would offer sacrifices to the gods and goddesses in order to ensure a good harvest in the coming year. The holiday was also a time for people to come together and celebrate the end of one year and the beginning of another.
Over time, the pagan holiday of Navasard evolved into the Christian holiday of New Year’s Day. Armenia was the first country to adopt Christianity as its official religion in 301 AD, and since then New Year’s Day has been an important holiday for Armenians.
On New Year’s Eve, many Armenians attend church services. Midnight mass is a popular way to ring in the new year. After church, people often gather together with family and friends to eat, drink, and be merry.
The most popular food on New Year’s Eve is fish. It is believed that eating fish on New Year’s Eve will bring good luck in the coming year. Other popular New Year’s Eve dishes include roasted lamb, pilaf (a rice dish), and khorovats (barbecue).
After dinner, many Armenians enjoy dancing and singing. Traditional Armenian folk dances are often performed on New Year’s Eve. As the clock strikes midnight, people often toast to the new year with champagne or vodka.
Armenia is a beautiful country with a rich culture and history. New Year’s Day is a special time to celebrate all that is good in life and to look forward to the year ahead.