What is Easter in Armenia?
Easter (in Armenian Zatik) is the most beloved and long-awaited holiday in Armenia. Armenia has been a Christian country since the year 301, and since then Holy Week has been a popular and participatory public holiday. Everyone on the street, at home in gatherings of friends and family greet each other and say: “Christ is risen.” The answer is “Blessed is the resurrection of Christ.”
The slow fasting season lasts 40 days before Easter. Christians, who want to fast, stay away from sins and eat only vegetarian dishes. During the fast, Christians attend church and confess their sins, read the Bible and stay away from the latter. Towards the end of the slow season, a week before Palm Sunday, when Jesus entered Jerusalem in triumph. It is a wonderfully decorated day: the streets and houses are lined with palm branches, the people are crowned with flowers.
During Lent, Armenian families also put lentils or other sprouted grains on a tray covered with a thin layer of cotton, and keep it in a bright place in the house until Easter, when the sprouts appear. These green shoots, which symbolize spring and the awakening of nature, are the “grass” on which colored eggs are laid to decorate the Easter table.
The upcoming Easter day is a day of joy and triumph against the cold and darkness. Spring Break and Resurrection! The Armenians have preserved the beautiful Biblical tradition that refers to red eggs and cherek (sweet bread): “When Christ was crucified, his mother took some eggs and bread wrapped in a shawl. When the Mother saw her Son crucified and her arms bleeding, she Knelt down and wept. The Mother’s tears and the Son’s blood that fell on the mantle colored the eggs and bread. Then the Mother put the mantle on her head. From that day, people began to dye eggs red on Easter Day and women began to wear cloaks when visiting church.
Everywhere in Armenia, in Yerevan and in all cities, Easter is celebrated with traditional events, dishes, songs, greetings. Especially notable are the parties and joys in Echmiadzin, Dilijan, Garni and many other places. In many restaurants a special Easter meal is offered, and especially in the Old Dilijan complex, the food will be blessed by the priest. Another Easter event at the Best Western Paradise Hotel Dilijan will be set with nice live music. There will be special rates at Impuls Hotel.
The paschal atmosphere will proliferate over all. The special Easter liturgy will be held in the Main Armenian Cathedral in Ejmiatsin and in all other functioning churches. The Garni Pagan Temple will also join in the celebrations and offer traditional Easter eggs as gifts.
