About Vartavar

The pagan feast Vartavar marked the harvest each year and was traditionally associated with the goddess Asdgig.  Armenians celebrated this goddess with water. 

To replicate Asdghig's bathing, people would sprinkle each other with rose water and hold a special festival of roses during this joyful feast.  Additionally, family members would adapt their children's games and toys for frolicking water games.

With equal glee Armenians rejoiced over agricultural abundance during Vartavar.  It either preceded or coincided with the feast of the harvest, which was the Armenian New Year (Navasart-Amanor).  It was most likely held between August 1^st and 6^th, each year.

Different regions in Armenian celebrated the harvest with different traditions.  For instance, in the district of Koghtn it was customary to hold a ritual during this festival involving green wheat that had previously budded.  In other regions, special rituals were directly connected with animal husbandry.  The Armenian Meliks marked that day with feasts held in the fields and rituals dedicated to fertility -- such as bringing fruits as gifts to future brides and grooms, throwing fruits on their heads, or sending them apples.

Throughout much of Armenia, families enjoyed delicious harisa as part of the feast.