TOURINFO Magazine- On February 19, Armenia celebrates Book Gifting Day. The gifting day is dedicated to the birthdate of an outstanding Armenian poet and writer, Hovhannes Tumanyan. Folk epic is the strongest field in Hovahanns Tumanyan oeuvre, the rest of his literary legacy contains of harmonically intertwined prose and poetry, stories and fables, lyric and ballad.
In 1512 the first Armenian book, Urbatagirk (“The Book of Fridays”) was printed in Venice by Hakob Mehapart, the founder of Armenian printing, 57 years after the world first book was printed in Germany. On that time, Meghapart continued carrying out his activities, despite that Armenians were under the yoke of the Ottoman and Persian khans. Hakob Megapart, with the blessing of Pope Julius II in Venice, orders local artisans to cast Armenian alphabets and make colorful ornaments for them. He would create the book Urbatagirk look as attractive and picturesque as its handwritten manuscripts. By his request, each letter was made in several styles, in a single font in two colors red and black. 124 Pages Urbatagirk contains of medieval belief collections, prayer spells, half-fictional narratives, medicine recipes in rhymed prayers to protect from evil eye and danger.
Handwritten Urbatagirks existed before its printing and were in great demand among the people. People had a belief that the book has potent healing power and were storing it at homes in secret places. The people who couldn’t read had memorized by hearing the texts of prayers.
These collections were named after the word urbat “Friday” because on Friday, the sick people were taken to church and were read prayers to heal them. Friday is the day of the creation of man, and the day of the crucifixion of the Son of Man. Friday has dual features, it symbolizes good deed and atrocity. Friday enhances the effect of prayers and has an important role in religion and in church clergy. Friday is dedicated to the Holy Cross, which symbolizes Christ. ~February 2020
