Public holidays in Armenia are far more than just calendar dates—they are powerful expressions of national identity, unity, and cultural pride. Whether marked by solemn remembrance or joyful celebration, each occasion is honored with deep respect and heartfelt participation.
Experiencing Armenia during one of its public holidays provides an enriching opportunity to connect with the country’s enduring history and vibrant traditions. Each celebration commemorates a unique historical or cultural event, and the customs surrounding them vary accordingly. Below is an overview of Armenia’s most significant public holidays to help you choose a festival that resonates with your interests.
| Date | Holiday | Date | Holiday |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 31 – Jan 2 | New Year | May 1 | Labour Day |
| January 6 | Christmas | May 9 | Victory Day |
| January 28 | National Army Day | May 28 | Day of the First Republic |
| March 8 | Women’s Day | September 14 | Exaltation of the Holy Cross |
| Date changes | Easter | September 21 | Independence Day |
| April 24 | Genocide Remembrance Day |
New Year is among the most eagerly awaited public holidays in Armenia. The festivities commence on December 31 and extend into the first few days of January. Central to the celebration is the tradition of visiting family and friends, offering good wishes, and showing respect to loved ones. As the festivities wind down, many Armenians begin a fasting period in preparation for the spiritual observance of Christmas.
The holiday kicks off with New Year’s Eve liturgies held at churches throughout the country, where worshippers gather for prayer and reflection. One of the most meaningful elements of this service is the blessing of pomegranates, an enduring symbol of Armenian heritage. After the liturgy, families return home to feast at tables laden with a rich spread of traditional Armenian dishes. The abundance of food is viewed as a symbol of prosperity and good fortune for the coming year. Read more…
Armenian Christmas is uniquely celebrated on January 6, combining the Nativity and the Feast of the Epiphany, which commemorates the revelation of God in the form of Jesus Christ.
This deeply religious holiday is often preceded by a week-long fast, culminating on the evening of January 5 with the Christmas Eve liturgy. The following day, January 7, is dedicated to honoring deceased loved ones. Families visit cemeteries, adorning graves with flowers and leaving symbolic offerings of food. They recall cherished memories, raise toasts, and share stories to celebrate the lives of those who have passed. Read more…
Armenia embraced International Women’s Day during the 1920s, while it was still part of the Soviet Union. Although the holiday was briefly discontinued after independence, attempts by the Armenian Church to replace it with a religious observance on April 7 dedicated to the Virgin Mary and motherhood did not resonate widely with the population.
Due to enduring public affection for March 8, the government reinstated it as an official holiday in 2000. On this day, women across Armenia—mothers, daughters, wives, sisters, friends, and colleagues—are honored with flowers, gifts, and affectionate gestures. The celebration also launches a month-long series of events, including concerts, exhibitions, artisan fairs, and cultural festivals, culminating on April 7, which, while not a state holiday, continues to carry religious significance.
Armenian Easter, or Zatik, is observed in accordance with the lunar calendar, and its date changes from year to year. Like in many Christian traditions, Easter is preceded by a 40-day period of Lent and culminates with Holy Week.
On Holy Saturday night, believers gather in churches for Easter Vigil services. Reflecting the Hebrew tradition of days beginning at sunset, Easter officially starts as darkness falls. The faithful light candles and participate in midnight services that celebrate the resurrection of Christ. The sacred flame, which worshippers carry home, symbolizes the miraculous Holy Fire that is believed to descend each year at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. Read more…
April 24 marks the most solemn occasion in the Armenian calendar: the remembrance of the Armenian Genocide.
On this date in 1915, the Ottoman authorities began arresting Armenian intellectuals in Constantinople, an act that signaled the start of a systematic genocide that ultimately claimed over a million lives and virtually eliminated Armenians from their ancestral homeland within the Ottoman Empire.
The first commemoration occurred in 1919 in Istanbul, led by genocide survivors. Today, it is honored with great reverence throughout Armenia and the diaspora. Each year, hundreds of thousands of people silently march through the streets of Yerevan toward the Tsitsernakaberd Armenian Genocide Memorial. Carrying flowers and prayers, participants pay homage to those who perished, ensuring their memory remains etched into the national conscience. Read more…
Armenia, like many nations around the globe, marks May 1 as Labor Day, also known as International Workers’ Day.
The origins of this day trace back to the labor rights movement in the United States during the 1860s, when American workers advocated for an eight-hour workday. By the late 19th century, the observance had gained recognition in Western Europe and the U.S., albeit on differing dates. With the expansion of communist ideology, May 1 was embraced by countries such as China, North Korea, Cuba, and the former Soviet Union. Today, 66 nations recognize May 1 as a national holiday celebrating labor.
In Armenia, Labor Day was initially abolished after the country gained independence from the USSR in 1991. However, strong public interest led to its reinstatement in 2005.
Modern-day celebrations in Armenia include festive parades, music concerts, and a range of cultural programs that pay tribute to the working population. It is also a day frequently chosen for political rallies and demonstrations.
Victory Day, also referred to as the Day of the Victory over Fascism or Victory and Peace Day, is celebrated with patriotic pride in Armenia on May 9.
This day is filled with military processions, aerial displays, public concerts, and official speeches. World War II veterans are honored through special tributes, with younger generations gathering to hear their stories and express gratitude. The highest-ranking officials and clergy members participate in wreath-laying ceremonies at the Mother Armenia statue, paying their respects to those who sacrificed their lives during the war.
Among Armenia’s more recent state holidays, the Day of the First Republic was instituted in the early 1990s to honor the establishment of the First Republic of Armenia on May 28, 1918. This came in the wake of the Russian Revolution and the fall of the tsarist government.
Although the First Republic existed for only two years, it played a vital role in shaping Armenian national consciousness and state identity.
Each year on May 28, streets are adorned with national flags, and a variety of events—ranging from cultural programs and speeches to parades and fireworks—take place across the nation. A significant moment of the day is the ceremonial visit by the Armenian President to the Sardarapat Memorial, where homage is paid to the 1918 battle victory that safeguarded Armenia’s independence from Ottoman forces.
Constitution Day is a national observance commemorating the adoption of Armenia’s constitution in 1995, following the country’s secession from the Soviet Union. This fundamental document laid the groundwork for a democratic, multi-party system in the newly independent republic.
The holiday is also celebrated as the Day of State Symbols, honoring Armenia’s flag, coat of arms, and national anthem.
Most Armenians mark the occasion by enjoying time with family and taking part in public events that celebrate Armenian heritage. The day often concludes with firework displays lighting up the night skies.
From a religious standpoint, the Exaltation of the Holy Cross ranks among the most sacred holidays in Armenia. It commemorates the recovery of the True Cross—the cross upon which Christ was crucified—after it was taken by Persian forces during the 7th-century conquest of Jerusalem. Byzantine Emperor Heraclius retrieved the cross and passed through Armenia during its return to Jerusalem, where the relic was repeatedly elevated and venerated by Armenian Christians.
Today, the celebration is marked by a solemn ceremony known as antasdan, a traditional procession in which a large cross, adorned with basil (symbolizing royalty), is carried through the fields. The procession, led by clergy and parishioners, culminates in the blessing of each direction of the field, symbolizing the four corners of the world, to invoke divine protection over the land and its people.
Armenia’s Independence Day marks the anniversary of the 1991 national referendum in which the Armenian people voted overwhelmingly for independence from the Soviet Union. Following the successful vote, Levon Ter-Petrosyan was elected as the country’s first president in November of the same year.
This national milestone is commemorated with an official award ceremony where the President of Armenia honors outstanding citizens and military personnel. Throughout the country, events focused on Armenian history and national pride are held, and in major jubilee years, a grand military parade is staged in the capital city of Yerevan.