Millions of people throughout the world celebrate St. Valentine’s Day on February 14 by exchanging love messages, poems and gifts. Traditions differ from country to country. Armenia has got its own counterparts of this famous holiday: this year they have all been celebrated in February. Thus, February has all the rights to be called the Month of the Young and Love :-).
The observance of St Sargis Day usually falls between January 18 and February 23, sixty-three days before Easter. The holiday is very popular among the youth, as St. Sargis is the patron saint of young lovers. In accordance with the tradition after fasting all day, young people eat a piece of salty bread (aghi blit) in the hope of dreaming about their future spouse who will give them water. Salty pie works wonders and lots of people evidence that they have seen their future husband or wife in their dream!
Trndez (Candlemas) is another popular Armenian holiday, dating back to pre-Christian times; it was connected with the fire/sun worship and thus coming of the spring and fertility. Nowadays it is observed by the Armenian Apostolic Church as a feast of purification and is celebrated on the night of February 13th (40 days after Jesus’ birth). The main partakers of the feast are newly-married and loving couples who jump over the bonfire. It’s believed that the evil will be swept away and happiness will come to people’s homes. The ceremony is followed by traditional songs and dances around the fire. People also light candles from the blessed fire to take them to their places and keep them till the next holiday of Trndez.
Gevorg and some of the envoy guests have joined the feast. Good luck to all who are still looking for their Love!
