On July 16, at 1:00 pm, the Gyumri community hall invites everyone to the town of their birth to take part in the Pan-Armenian Vardavar.

Today we offer you to get acquainted with the history of the most beloved summer holiday.

Vardavar is one of the five great holidays of the Armenian Apostolic Church, preceded by a shabatapahq, and the next Monday is the day of commemoration of the deceased.

Vardavar was still celebrated by pagan Armenians, honoring Astghik, the goddess of water, love, beauty, and Anahit, the goddess of fertility.

On the day of the holiday, the peasants mostly completed field work and thanked the goddesses for the rains and harvest. They also asked to protect the fields from drought, insects and various disasters.

The villagers went to the nearby mountains, rivers and springs, offered sacrifices, gave ears of corn to the pagan Mehyans, decorated the house and animals with flowers and tree branches. They also celebrated the holiday by preparing special dishes, giving each other flowers, and flying pigeons. But the festivities were not limited to this and continued with fairs, feasts, songs and dances, and games.

According to Christian tradition, the holiday is associated with Jesus Christ and is called Transfiguration or Transfiguration Day.

Christ ascends Mount Tabor with his disciples. The apostles fall asleep from fatigue and heat, and light descends on Christ, illuminating the entire mountain.

The apostles witness the transfiguration of their teacher.