Vardavar (Transformation) in Armenia
Description:
It is a celebration of the transfiguration of the Lord on Mount Tabor. According to the Bible, Jesus Christ, the Savior with the three apostles Peter, James and John, ascended Mount Tabor, where the prophets Moses and Elijah appeared to them. As he spoke to them, Christ was transformed, and His garments became whiter than snow.
However, this holiday, despite its Christian essence, retained a number of pagan features. The word Vardavar itself has different meanings. According to the legend of the Armenian Church, St. Gregory the Illuminator, the first Catholicos of Armenia appointed the feast of Transfiguration on the first day of the Armenian calendar - 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 rites of the national celebration of the Transfiguration. By analogy with the Russian holidays, it turned out about the day of Ivan Kupala or Ilya the Prophet.
According to one version, the very name of the holiday "Vardavar" (or "Vardamatn") goes back to the word "vard" (rose) and means "to sprinkle roses." In pre-Christian Armenia, Vardavar was associated with the goddess of love and beauty Astghik and the love between her and the god Vahagn. Giving roses and pouring rose water, Astghik sowed love throughout the Armenian country, and the god Vahagn, always fighting evil, guarded and protected this love. This is evidenced by another story. Once Astghik, hearing that her lover was wounded, was in such a hurry to see him that she set out barefoot. On the way, not noticing anything around, she wound her legs against the rose bushes, and the flowers from her blood turned red. This is how the red rose became a symbol of love.
The festival was accompanied by traditional songs, dances and games. People gave each other roses, and young men in love let pigeons into the sky. In the temple of Astghik, pilgrims laid bouquets of roses on the sacred place and made sacrifices. If a pigeon swirled three times over the roof of his beloved’s house, in the fall she was married. A different picture was observed in mountainous areas, where the climate is relatively cool. Here the main role was given to animal sacrifice, distant pilgrimage, fun. Like other traditional holidays, Vardavar also carries a sense of fertility. People with a two-day supply of food went to the holy springs, brought with them decorated animals for sacrifice, which were sacrificed, hoping for the mercy of the gods.
According to another variant, the word "Vardavar" consists of the roots "vard (ward)" - "water" and "var" - "wash, water", means "spray with water", which is the meaning of the holiday. According to an ancient legend that has survived to us, there was a rich man in the world who demanded that young beauties be given into slavery for the use of his water. The brave young man Vardan defeated the villain and freed the girls. On this day it is customary to pour water. The holiday begins in the early morning, everyone waters each other with water, who can, regardless of age, gender or social status. You can not be offended or dissatisfied, because it is believed that on this day the water has healing power.
