TOURINFO-YEREVAN- Navasard is as old as Armenia herself. Navasard is the ancient Armenian New Year, which was celebrated in antiquity for 30 days, from August 11 to September 9. It commemorated our Genesis story, where, according to legend, on August 11, 2493 BC, Hayk Nahapet killed the Babylonian tyrant, Bel, thus establishing the Armenian nation. According to the hin haykakan tomar, (the ancient Armenian calendar), we are now in the year 4513!
In pagan Armenia, New Year was celebrated in summer, in the month of Navasard. The name “Navasard” is of Parthian-Iranian origin. It consists of two words: Nava (new) and sard (year). The month coincided with the modern August. Fruit of Armenian land ripened by the New Year, and it’s no coincidence that this very month was considered the beginning of the year in historical Armenia.
For many centuries, Armenians from all walks of life cherished and celebrated Navasard, which today has all but faded into obscurity, with only a handful even knowing about its rich, fabled history.
Find out with these facts about Navasard!
It is as old as Armenia herself– Navasard is the ancient Armenian New Year, which was celebrated in antiquity for 30 days, from Aug. 11 to Sept. 9. It commemorated our Genesis story, where, according to legend, on Aug. 11, 2492 BC, Hayk Nahapet killed the Babylonian tyrant, Bel, thus establishing the Armenian nation. According to the hin haykakan tomar, (the ancient Armenian calendar), we are now in the year 4513! (Photo: “Hayk striking Bel,” by Rubik Kocharian)
11 is an important number– August 11 was quite an eventful day for ancient Armenians. In addition to marking the official birth of Armenia, it was also believed to be the day when the biblical Noah’s Ark landed on Mount Ararat. Photo: “Noah’s Ark on Mount Ararat,” by Simone de Myle, dated 1570. Nederlands Instituut Voor Kunstgeschie).
Day of the Gods– Navasard was a day to please the seven main Armenian pagan gods through various sacrifices of grains and animals (matagh), with the hope of being granted wishes, like fertility and love, in the coming year. Ancient Armenians believed that, on Navasard, the gods would descend from their celestial dwelling on Mount Ararat to bathe in the Aratsani River. Pagan Armenians worshipped goddesses Anahit and Astghik, as well as god Vahagn on New Year.
For the gods, no goods were spared-According to fables, tables would collapse under the weight of all of the dishes, sweets, and dried fruits presented on this day of festivity and cheer. Many superstitious sayings today have their origins in the culinary traditions of this holiday, such as, “one cannot borrow bread on Navasard,” meaning that one must bake bread with their own wheat, which some scientists think may have originated in the Armenian Highlands. Though there was such abundance, people did not stuff themselves to the brim. (Painting: “Pomegranate Dance,” by Rubik Kocharian, 2010)
New Year started from 1 Navasard (11 August) and lasted for a week. It was welcomed tableful in all Armenian families. That day special dishes were cooked, abundant tables were set, and all family members welcomed the New Year happily.
Happy Navasard!