Vardavar

Roses and water

Vardavar began as a pagan festival associated with Astghik, goddess of beauty, love, fertility and water. The meaning of its name has long been debated: one explanation links it to vard, the Armenian word for rose, since rosewater was used in rituals honouring the goddess; another to older roots meaning water and splashing. After Armenia adopted Christianity in 301, the Armenian Church reinterpreted Vardavar as the Feast of the Transfiguration, when Jesus revealed his divine nature to his disciples, and the water came to be associated with the Flood and Noah’s dove. The ancient festival was once celebrated in August, associated with the ancient ritual of Navasard.

A country-wide water fight

On Vardavar Armenians of all ages roam the streets with bottles, buckets and water guns, splashing strangers, friends and family alike; water is poured from balconies onto passers-by. Tradition says every Armenian should get at least a little wet that day, and being hit is considered lucky. In Yerevan the dancing fountain on Republic Square and Swan Lake by Freedom Square are favourite battlegrounds — the lake, normally closed to waders, is opened for the day, and the city itself sprays revellers with hoses. Different regions have their own water traditions, and the Temple of Garni hosts an annual Vardavar festival of Armenian culture.

The holiday was once also marked by fires on hilltops, and it is still a day for nature: people picnic on the grass, in the forest or by springs.