St. Sargis is lovers’ saint who makes love dreams come true. There are different legends and stories related to him. According to one of them, a poor ashough Gharib was in love with a rich man’s daughter Shah-Sanami. She also loved him but as the ashough was poor, girl’s father didn’t let them marry as he wanted to marry daughter with a rich man. Ashough decided to earn money abroad but before leaving, he asked the girl to promise to wait 7 years for him to come back, and told to marry another man if he was late even a day. 7 years were passing with great difficulties and ashough Gharib didn’t have any news from his lover but didn’t loose his faith to go back and marry her. 7 years passed, he gained the desired wealth but the way back was dangerous and filled with obstacles making ashough feel to never reach his lover. Ashough Gharib in despair prayed to St. Sarkis asking for his support. Saint Sarkis, hearing the prayer, appeared on his white horse and took the lover to Shah-Saname. Girl’s father saw ashough Gharib’s faith and curiosity, the true love and devotion and blessed the couple. There are also some traditions and ceremonies which are kept and performed by Armenians. The widely known holiday is celebrated among not married boys and girls. There is a tradition to eat a salty biscuit in the previous night of St. Sargis and not to drink any water, and one will marry the person who brings water in his/her dream. Another activity which should be taken on this day is to put a plate of roasted wheat flour in a balcony and if St. Sarkis leaves the trace of his horseshoe on the flour, the daydreams of the young boy/girl of the family come true.
This year the holiday will be celebrated on 26 January. Eat the salty biscuit and who knows, may be you will see your future spouse in your dream bringing a glass of water for you.
