Vardavar — holiday of the Transfiguration of Jesus Christ in Armenia (24/07)

Among the Armenian traditional holidays is Vardavar (arm. —րարանար or իանաար) is, of course, the largest summer holiday, one of the main holidays of the Armenian Church and one of the most beloved summer holidays among the people. It is celebrated on the 98th day after Easter.

The holiday was established in honor of the Transfiguration of the Lord, which took place on Mount Tabor. According to the Bible, Jesus Christ with the three apostles — Peter, James and John — climbed Mount Tabor, where the prophets Moses and Elijah appeared to them. Talking to them, Christ was transformed, and His clothes became whiter than snow.

However, this holiday, despite its Christian essence, has retained a number of pagan features. The word «Vardavar» itself has different meanings. According to the legend of the Armenian Church, Saint Gregory the Illuminator, the first Catholicos of Armenia, appointed the Feast of the Transfiguration on the first day of the Armenian calendar — on the 1st day of the month of Navasard (August 11). And on this day a pagan holiday was celebrated, and as a result, some of its elements were preserved in the rituals of the national celebration of the Transfiguration.

According to one version, the very name of the holiday «Vardavar» (or «Vardamatn») goes back to the word «vard» (rose) and means « sprinkle roses». In pre-Christian Armenia, Vardavar was associated with the goddess of love and beauty Astghik and love between her and the god Vahagn. Giving roses and pouring rose water, Astghik sowed love throughout the Armenian country, and the god Vahagn, forever fighting Evil, guarded and defended this love.

Another legend also testifies to this. One day Astghik, hearing that her lover was wounded, was in such a hurry to see him that she set off barefoot. On the way, not noticing anything around, she injured her feet on the rose bushes, and the flowers from her blood turned red. This is how the red rose became a symbol of love.

According to another version, the word «Vardavar» consists of the roots «vard (ward)» — «water» and «var» — «wash, water», means «spray water», which is the meaning of the holiday. According to an ancient legend that has come down to us, there lived a rich man in the world who demanded that young beauties be given into slavery for the use of the water he owned. The brave young man Vardan defeated the villain and freed the girls.

On this day it is customary to douse yourself with water. The holiday begins from the very early morning, everyone pours water on each other, whatever they can, regardless of age, gender and social status. You cannot be offended or displeased, because it is believed that on this day the water has healing powers.

Previously, the holiday was also accompanied by traditional songs, dances and games. People gave each other roses, and young men in love let pigeons into the sky. In the Astghik Temple, pilgrims laid bouquets of roses on the sacred site and performed sacrifices. If a pigeon circled three times over the roof of his beloved’s house, it was married off in the fall. A different picture was observed in mountainous areas, where the climate is relatively cool. Here the main role was given to animal sacrifice, long-distance pilgrimage, and fun.

Like other traditional holidays, «Vardavar» also carries the meaning of fertility. People with a two-day supply of food went to the holy springs, took with them animals decorated for sacrifice, which were sacrificed, hoping for the mercy of the gods.

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