An Essay On Vardavar And Religion
David Khngikyan October 16, 2017
Vardavar
Vardavar is celebrated 98 days (14 weeks) after Easter. The tradition of Vardavar dates back to Armenia's pagan era, when its Vishaps were worshipped for bringing life-giving water to the land. Some date the tradition of Vardavar to the early Bronze Age, others detect its origins in stone carvings on the Geghama Lehr going back more then 10,000 years. Vishaps were placed throughout Armenia at springs and sources of rivers. They were guardians of life, and as Armenia began losing its forests in the Bronze Age, increasingly important for irrigation and survival. Vardavar continued into the Christian era, when the church uprise the pagan tradition and created a Holy Day associated with it. Still others trace the origin to the great flood. Noah's ark is believed to have landed on Mt. Ararat, the largest mountain in the area, which can be seen from much of Armenia. The flood cleansed the world of the greedy and selfish, and Vardavar's ritual splashing symbolizes the washing of one's sins and the renewal of life. In more …show more content…
It is common to see people pouring buckets of water from balconies on unsuspecting people walking below them. The festival is very popular among children as it is one day where they can get away with pranks. It is also a means of refreshment on a hot and dry summer days of July or late June. On that day water is considered to be curative and powerful, especially in divinations and the foretelling of futures. It was superstitiously believed to be a means of driving away evil. The accompanying traditional songs, dances, and games were supplications to the gods to give water to the dry earth. People would present roses to each other and loving couples would set pigeons free. If the pigeon flew over the young girls roof three times then it was an omen that the man would marry the girl in the
Vardavar
Vardavar is celebrated 98 days (14 weeks) after Easter. The tradition of Vardavar dates back to Armenia's pagan era, when its Vishaps were worshipped for bringing life-giving water to the land. Some date the tradition of Vardavar to the early Bronze Age, others detect its origins in stone carvings on the Geghama Lehr going back more then 10,000 years. Vishaps were placed throughout Armenia at springs and sources of rivers. They were guardians of life, and as Armenia began losing its forests in the Bronze Age, increasingly important for irrigation and survival. Vardavar continued into the Christian era, when the church uprise the pagan tradition and created a Holy Day associated with it. Still others trace the origin to the great flood. Noah's ark is believed to have landed on Mt. Ararat, the largest mountain in the area, which can be seen from much of Armenia. The flood cleansed the world of the greedy and selfish, and Vardavar's ritual splashing symbolizes the washing of one's sins and the renewal of life. In more …show more content…
It is common to see people pouring buckets of water from balconies on unsuspecting people walking below them. The festival is very popular among children as it is one day where they can get away with pranks. It is also a means of refreshment on a hot and dry summer days of July or late June. On that day water is considered to be curative and powerful, especially in divinations and the foretelling of futures. It was superstitiously believed to be a means of driving away evil. The accompanying traditional songs, dances, and games were supplications to the gods to give water to the dry earth. People would present roses to each other and loving couples would set pigeons free. If the pigeon flew over the young girls roof three times then it was an omen that the man would marry the girl in the