Terendez

Its main participants are lovers and newlyweds.Terendez is celebrated every year on February 14. This holiday resembles the holiday of Lovers, because its main participants are lovers and newlyweds. And otherwise it looks like Russian Maslenitsa.

The origins of this holiday are in the ancient ritual of pagan fire worshipers. Originally, it was called Derendez, which in Armenian means “a sheaf of hay in front of your house”, that is, wishing prosperity to the house, fertility to the land. After the adoption of Christianity, the name underwent a change, the holiday became known as Terendez, from the word "terre" - the master, the creator. Since then, its main participants are boys and girls, newlyweds or going to get married this year.

The main symbol of the action is the fire, through which young couples jump. The main thing is not to untie hands, then the union will be strong. While the boys and girls jump, the elders sprinkle them with seeds of wheat and hemp.

It is believed that during the rite the flame of the fire acquires a special energy of renewal, new life. After the youth should jump adult or childless women hoping to have offspring. Then all the participants, holding hands, unite in a common dance around the fertile fire. The ashes from the burned festive fire are scattered in the fields to create a new crop.