Navasard

Navasard

Updated at April 21, 2026

According to the ancient Armenian calendar, August 11 was a first day of the New Year. So it means the New Year. Everyone celebrated that day started from the royal family till the local peasants.

The Ethnographers claim that the ancient Armenians celebrated that day with dances, songs, traditional amusements. This festival was dedicated to the seven pagan Gods. The legend says that on this day the Gods came down to the Earth and swam in the holy river of Aratsani and then watched the celebration from the top of snowy mountains. The people would please the Gods by sacrificing wheat grains, the blood of domestic animals and other rituals.

Besides that, on August 11 is considered to be the day when Noah’s Ark landed on Ararat. Once this holiday was a nationwide festival, but after changing the calendars Armenians stopped to celebrate this holiday.

Armenia Discovery
Created at January 15, 2018 / Updated at April 21, 2026

Author: Armenia Discovery

You may also be interested in

Fish Festival
April 21, 2026 Fish Festival

It is one of the favorite festivals for all the Armenians because the fish symbolizes Christianity. The first time it was held in Abovyan city (located in Kotayk region) in 2014. During the festival, the professional...

Continue reading
Festival Mulberry – NKR
April 21, 2026 Festival Mulberry – NKR

The Mulberry festival takes place at Amaras Monastery (Nagorno Karabakh). More than 30 participants present their own production from 5 regions of NKR, Stepanakert and from the Republic of Armenia. During the festival, the locals present...

Continue reading
Bread in the Mountains
April 21, 2026 Bread in the Mountains

The aim of the Bread in the Mountains festival is to show the guests the history of bread and also to show the visitors how difficult it is to bake it. It also aims to show...

Continue reading