Visit Armenia any time and you will be right in the middle of unforgettable events, which will take you back to the culture of ancient civilizations. The adoption to Christianity was the logical continuation of the philosophy and culture of their ancestors.

Festivals have unified the nation, abolishing the boarders and bans within society. Armenian Feast Calendar is like the eternal circle of life–birth, childhood, youth, maturity and fertility. Isn't it a new experience be the part of the people, share their customs and joy around the feast table?

- Get acquainted with the myths, legends and wisdom of this sacred land.
- Attend the festivals amongst the historical sites.
- See the cross relationship of picturesque rituals.
- Participate in the folk dances, songs and feast.
- Taste traditional dishes - unique cuisine with its own special flavour.
- Take part in the process of fortune telling.

Winter festivals

Christmas - New Year - Terndez (Presentation of the Temple). Winter festivals symbolise the birth of the Sun - the God and the new life. 
They are dedicated to the praise of the birth and thanksgiving for the warmth and the life.

Spring festivals

Tsaghkazard (Palm Day) - Zatik (Easter) - Hambartsum (Ascension) Spring festivals symbolise the awakening and revealing of the and the Life. They are connected with flowers, trees, and fortune telling with colorful rituals.

Summer festivals

Vardavar (Transfiguration) - Navasard - Astvatsatsin (The Day of Saint Maria)
Summer festivals symbolise the Water and the Love. They signify the eternal love, blessing the fruit and the wines.

Autumn festivals

Surb Khach (Saint Cross) - Targmanchats (Saint Translators) - Barekendan (Shrovetide)
Autumn festivals symbolise the Maturity - the Earth and Universe. They celebrate the knowledge, sacred writings and thank the Earth for its fertility.

Armenian wines and brandy

Armenia is known as the motherland of viticulture and winemaking. 
The legend tells that Noah planted the first vineyard in the plateau of Ararat. Burning sun, rich land and the hard work of the peasant have given Armenian wine its unique taste and odour. Ancient wine vessels, sometimes with condensed antic wine, are found in many historical places. 
The programs, which include wine testing, are very popular. The tourists who pass through Vayots Dzor region always taste the different bouquet of wines in small wineries. Wine is the part of the national lifestyle, and traditional dishes are not complete without wine, drunk to beautiful and traditional toasts of Tamada (Toastmaker).
This region is famous for its red wine, especially "Areni". This wine is made of the relict vineyards the history of which goes to1000BC. They are really unique, and tasting once you will test them again and again. Armenia's enterprises produce over a dozen brands of brandies which according to the unanimous opinion of expert tasters are in no way inferior to the world-famous French ones.

Many of their labels show the gold medals awarded at international exhibitions. The history of Armenian brandy starts from the vineyards of the Shustovs from the beginning of XIX century.

Mineral waters

According to a legend, after adopting Christianity as a state religion, the relics of the saints were transported to Armenia and in the places where the ceremony stopped, the springs of mineral water burst out. Dozens and dozens of unique fresh-water and mineral springs of various physic-chemical compositions are found in different parts of this sacred land. Stone baths, dating from the1st century, were discovered almost in all regions of Armenia. 

A selection of Armenian cuisine

Food in Armenia is one of the chief attractions. Each region has its own unique cuisine with its own special flavour. For gourmands the long list of delicious local dishes is provided: kololak, khaplama, tolma, basturma...

Armenian fruit and vegetables

Armenians are fond of their fruit and vegetables and widely use with in the national cuisine. 
Some Armenian varieties of apricots, peaches, pomegranates, walnuts and quince are superior to the world's best grades. As early as the 4th century BC Alexander the Great brought apricot trees from Armenia to Greece whence they found their way to Rome.

Lavash

Lavash - the national thin, paper like bread of Armenians. It is baked in tonyr and they are so transparent that the sunrays pass through them. Armenians use it also as a plate, a saucepan, and a spoon. Many dishes are cooked on mild fire, covered with lavash. Traditionally Armenians eat their food folded in lavash.

Armenia, a small territory of 29.750 sq. km, is situated in Southern Transcaucasia, a mountainous region in the North Eastern part of the Armenian Plateau.

It is one of the most ancient countries in the world and exists since the times of Babylon, Assyria and Egypt. In 301AD Armenia adopted Christianity as an official religion, the first country in the world to do so. From its capital Yerevan, founded in 782 BC, one can see the most spectacular Ararat Mountain in all its splendour. It is on that eternal snow and glacier capped mountain (5165m high) that Noah's Ark came to rest after the Big Flood.

Modern Yerevan is built largely of tuff, the country's attractive pink volcanic stone. It has a population of 1,2 million people representing one third of whole Armenian population. Yerevan is also the country's administrative and cultural centre, and despite economic difficulties, it is a vibrant city with busy markets and sidewalk vendors, numerous open cafes and parks.

It is fascinating to know that in Armenia one can see a wealth of historical sites, monuments and archaeological discoveries, some dating back as far as 2-1 mil. BC and many of them well preserved. It embraces cave cities and ancient observatories, Urartian fortresses and cuneiforms, ancient temples and first Christian monasteries carved in hillside rocks. For its rich cultural legacy Armenia is considered an open book for the history of humanity.

Visitors to Armenia will walk on the very Silk Road the rich caravans used on their passages from China to the Middle East and Rome. Armenia offers a striking variety of natural beauties and micro climates ranging from sun-burnt deserts in the mountain valleys to alpine meadows, from lush forests to eternal snow on the mountain peaks. With most of its territory being a natural mountainous environment, Armenia is an ecologically clean country with an abundance of pure water and natural mineral springs. 

The Ararat valley is very fertile with endless fruit orchards such as apricots, peaches, pears, pomegranates as well as vineyards producing excellent wine and cognac. Travelling through Armenia visitors will find a friendly nation where people have kept their culture and traditions. They will also discover the many other interesting facets of Armenian life, taste the famous Armenian bread lavash, eat barbecue prepared in tonyr (special oven dug in the ground), and generally appreciate the life of the one of the most ancient nations in the world. This is a small country, but like the drop can tell about the ocean, Armenia reflects the history of mankind.