Vardanank (St. Vardan's Day) is a traditional Armenian holiday that is celebrated on February, 15th in memory of Vardan Mamikonian who headed the Armenian army in the battle with the Persian army on the Avarayr Field. Persians were going to force Armenians to adopt paganism; however, after the victory with numerous losses, they refused their intention. Thus, Armenians preserved Christianity, defending it in arms. Officially this holiday is celebrated in Armenia on Thursday, 8 weeks before Easter.

On the eve of the catholic St. Valentine's Day one of the most popular national holidays — Terendez, Sweethearts' Day — has been celebrated for more than 2 thousand years. Traditionally, the loving couples jump over the fire to strengthen their feelings and become really happy.

Mother's Day, Spring and Beauty's Day is celebrated on April, 7th and Easter (March-April) is celebrated with the same scope like in any other Christian country in the world.

Most of the cities and towns hold cultural and music festivals (mostly at the beginning of the spring) and during the summer almost every region has a number of traditional and modern festivals. An annual traditional autumn festival called Voski Ashun (Golden Autumn) takes place in the city of Razdan in October.

"Water day" called Vardavar is celebrated on last Sunday of July when nearly all the people drench each other with water. There are many folk customs such as blessing of the first crop in August or lamb sacrifice when some of the religion holidays are celebrated. Many "local" festive ceremonies take place in the different places of the country accompanying this way both traditional Christian festive days and other dates that are celebrated according to the ancient traditions.

National holidays of Armenia are:

• December, 31st — January, 6th — Christmas Day and New Year's Day
• January, 6th — Christmas Day and Epiphany
• April, 7th — Motherhood and Beauty Day
• April, 24th — Genocide Remembrance Day
• May, 9th — Victory and Peace Day
• May, 28th — Republic Day
• July, 5th — Constitution Day
• September, 21st — Independence Day
• December, 7th — Spitak Remembrance Day

May, 28th — Republic Day

Since May 28th, 1918 the Day of the First Republic is celebrated in Armenia. Another name for this holiday is Restoration of Sovereignty Day. On May 28th, 1918 the independence of Armenia, being under the yoke of different conquerors for more than 6 centuries, was restored.

Divided between the Ottoman Empire and Persia in 1639, Armenia remained rather stable before the demise of the Safavid Dinasty in 1772. Approximately this time Russia started its expansion into this region. Russia annexed the Persian Armenia in 1813—1827 and a part of the Turkish Armenia in 1828 and 1878. In 1870th years appeared the Armenian national movement, whose leaders tried to benefit by the rivalry between then great powers which tried to subordinate the Ottoman Empire.

Soon after the beginning of the First World War, the Turks tried to solve the "Armenian issue" by forcing all the Armenians to expatriate from Asia Minor. The Armenian soldiers were demobilized from the Turkish army and were shot; women, children and old men were forced to leave the deserts of Syria. Death toll estimations are extremely different — from 600 thousand to 2 million persons.

Some Armenians were able to survive owing to the help of the Turks and Kurds; most of them fled to the Russian Armenia and to other countries of the Near East. The Russian Armenia was proclaimed independent republic on May 28th, 1918. Despite the famine, great influx of refugees and conflicts with the neighboring countries like Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey, the republic had been struggling for its existence. In 1920 the Red Army units entered Armenia and on December 2d, 1920 the Soviet Republic was proclaimed there.

July, 5th — Constitution Day

On July 5th, 1995 the draft Constitution, prepared by the Armenian national movement, was put to the national referendum and was approved by the Armenian people. The main law of 1995 became the first Constitution of the independent Armenia, according to which the republic has already been living for more than 10 years.

According to the Constitution, on the national emblem of the Republic there are Mount Ararat, Noah's ark and emblems of all the four kingdoms of the ancient Armenia. The shield is maintained by the eagle and the lion; under the shield there are a sword, a branch, a bundle of ears, a chain and a ribbon. The flag is three-colored, with horizontal even red, blue and orange stripes. The national anthem of the Republic is called "Our Homeland".

The Constitution established presidential and parliamentary government in the Republic. The legislative authority is represented by the National Assembly; the executive authority — by the Government; and the President is the guarantor of the independence, of the territorial integrity of the state and of the state security.

September, 21st — Independence Day

September 21st, 1991 is the day of national referendum, when the Armenian people voted for declaration of independence from the Soviet Union which the republic was part of since 1921.

Translated from: http://www.calend.ru