WEEKENDS IN YEREVAN AND ARMENIA

In the article you will find useful information about which state and religious holidays are celebrated in Armenia in 2024.

Weekend tours in Armenia

When planning a visit to Armenia, it is worth knowing in advance what holidays or weekends fall during your trip, because this is a great chance to get to know the local specifics, culture, and feel the special atmosphere of Armenia. Among the local holidays, you will certainly find familiar dates that are celebrated all over the world (for example, New Year or March 8). However, there are also dates that are specific to Armenia (for example, April 24 is the Day of Remembrance of the Victims of the Genocide). Let’s find out which official holidays are celebrated in Armenia in 2024.

December 31 – January 3 – New Year

The main holiday of the year in Armenia begins to be celebrated on the last day of December, which, as a rule, is non-working. Previously, the New Year’s weekend lasted until January 10, but from 2024 it was decided to shorten them. New Year in Armenia, as in most post-Soviet countries, is considered a family holiday, when all relatives and friends gather at one big table.

January 6 – Christmas

 Armenians celebrate Christmas a day earlier than the Orthodox Church. In the days leading up to Christmas, traditional church services are held. And the next day – January 7, people visit the graves of deceased relatives to honor their memory.

January 28 – Army Day

The Armed Forces of independent Armenia were formed on January 28, 1992, after the country seceded from the USSR. 11 years later, in 2001, the state holiday Army Day was established. On this day, a military parade is held in Yerevan, and representatives of the authorities visit the Yerablur military cemetery paying tribute to the fallen soldiers. 

March 8 – International Women’s Day

On March 8, in Armenia, as in most other countries, beloved women are congratulated – grandmothers, mothers, sisters, daughters. Along with the 8th of March, April 7 is celebrated here – Motherhood and Beauty Day, which, however, is not an official weekend. Various festive events dedicated to the “Women’s Month” are held throughout the month from March 8 to April 7.

Holly Easter

The day when Easter is celebrated in Armenia may fall on different dates from mid-March to the end of April. As in most Christian traditions, Easter is preceded by a 40-day Lent.

April 24 – the Day of Remembrance of the Victims of the Genocide 

On this day, Armenians visit the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial to commemorate the victims of the genocide of 1915, when more than one and a half million Armenians died in the Ottoman Empire.

May 1 – Labor Day

The International Workers’ Day began to be celebrated in Armenia in the Soviet years, the tradition continues to this day.

May 9 – Victory Day

Victory Day in Armenia is celebrated with various events, on this day there is a parade and performances of local artists right on the streets of the city. Top officials of the state visit Victory Park, where they lay flowers at the monument “Mother Armenia” in memory of the Armenian soldiers who gave their lives in the Great Patriotic War.

May 28 – the Day of the First Republic

The holiday was established in honor of the declaration of independence of the Republic of Armenia in 1918. This day played a decisive role in the future formation of the Armenian statehood.

September 21 – Independence Day of Armenia

On September 21, 1991, a referendum was held in Armenia, at which the people voted for secession from the USSR. Armenia’s Independence Day is celebrated on this day every year.

Where to go and how to organize a weekend vacation in Armenia?

The official holidays of Armenia are celebrated with a large number of various events in various places, but most of them, as a rule, take place in the center of Yerevan. Concerts and performances of local bands and artists are organized on the central streets, Northern Avenue, Freedom Square, and Republic Square. The schedule of festive events is usually published online a few days before the solemn dates, so that people have the opportunity to choose which places to visit on that day. Most of the main public holidays end with a grandiose fireworks display on Republic Square.

Weekends can be even more interesting if you plan a tour for this date in advance. You can choose various thematic excursions (for example, go to the Geghard Temple or the Tatev Monastery for Easter), purchase two- or three-day short tours, or develop your own individual weekend trip plan, according to your personal interests and preferences.