What is the number of Easter in Armenia?
What is the number of Easter in Armenia?
Holy Easter (Surb Zatik) in Armenia is celebratedwide and generous. The name of the holiday means "deliverance from torment," like the deliverance of Christ from the agony on the cross. Also, from the pre-Christian period, the Armenian Easter represents a gratitude to the natural forces for the coming of spring, when everything around is awakened from hibernation.
Like the Russian Orthodox Easter, Zatik does not havea clear date of celebration, but always marked in the spring after the equinox, on Sunday, following the full moon. The holiday begins after a special ceremony of consecration of the four directions of the world - Andastan, which takes place on the eve of Easter in the church, on the evening of Good Saturday.
Feast of the Resurrection
More than two thousand years that have passed sincethe birth of Jesus Christ, changed the world, but faith only grew stronger due to the holiday of the Resurrection, the traditions of which are passed on from generation to generation. In ancient times, every young Armenian must have been able to make an Easter symbol - the figure of Utis-tat, who is considered the mistress of the house and should decorate the kitchen, and also contribute to the upbringing of children in a national way. Another doll from Armenian legends is Aklatiz, which brings luck to the whole family. It is decorated with onions and 49 stones.Traditions
With the adoption of Christianity, the Armenians did not stoppaint eggs, which is one of the main elements of the celebration of Easter. Eggs are given a color that marks the spring and the sun is red. Usually in the role of paint comes pre-prepared onion husks. Only on the bright holiday of Easter children can compete in skating and breaking eggs, with pleasure enter into the game and adults. One of the most unusual Easter traditions also comes from Armenia: on Easter morning, taking a candle, the elderly women went out and consecrated trees. In ancient times, it was not without sacrifice: a rooster or a lamb cooked all night, and in the morning fed them poor. The table on Zatik is traditionally served with fish (kutap), symbolizing this day, bean-rice pie, pilaf with dried fruit and berries, wheat tortillas , boiled meat (lamb or rooster), a soup of lentils and choratan with onions, peppers and garlic, as well as other Easter dishes. No table can do without the leaves of the Spitak Bajar plant, because the ancient Armenian tradition says that these leaves served the Mother of God for the swaddling of Christ. The greetings on the feast of the bright Resurrection among the Armenians are not much different from the Russian traditions. In Armenia they say to each other: "Christ is Risen from the dead!", Receiving in reply: "Blessed be the Resurrection of Christ!"
