Life Science Journal, 2011;8(3) http://www.lifesciencesite.com The Armenian-Iranian Common Ritual Festivals Maryam Maki PhD Student, Department of Cultures and languages of ancient Iran, Science and Research branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran. [email protected] Abstract: Armenia-Iran has had relations for thousands of years. Their cultural interactions, especially, have not yet been investigated multilaterally and objectively. Some of the celebrations, which were celebrated before Christ, are celebrated by Armenian as their religious celebrations. Some of these are common between Iranian and Armenian. In this paper, the author wants intentionally to investigate these ritual common festivals. The findings of present investigation may describe the relation and accessibility of the rite, religion and history of these two countries during the year longs. [Maryam Maki. The Armenian-Iranian Common Ritual Festivals. Life Science Journal. 2011;8(3):299-303] (ISSN: 1097-8135). http://www.lifesciencesite.com. Keywords: Armenian-Iranian, Ritual Festivals, religion, celebrations 1. Introduction The rhapsodists (public musicians) were reading and The relations between Iran and Armenia have dancing. a long precedence from historical, cultural and Navasard is just celebrated between some economical point of view, which, one of the Armenian societies. The Armenian come together important factor is their neighboring and their and compete with each other, the winners are the neighborhood. victors of the Navasard. It says that the Armenian In this regard, the first truthful evidence is gods and the Goddess had their own special rites. The Bistoon inscription, which is wrote during Darioush proper rite for Armazd (Ahura Mazda) had the first Achaemenian and in the concept Armenia is established at the beginning of Navasard (the first called ad Armina. (Kent, 1952, p115) month of the year). Before that time, the Armenian also have close To the Zoroastrians, the sixth day is called the relation with the Media, even at war with Assyrian, "Naurooz Bozorg" or "greater Naurooz" as it is they help them during the storming toward the celebrated as the birthday of Holy Zarathushtra. The Neinava. Considering to the equality of both races sixth day of the month of Farvardin is the day of and their relationship and closeness of their countries Ourmazd. from geographical point of view, it seems that both Anania Shirakasi (Seventh Century) and races also have common points in various cases, such Johannes Imastaser (1129-1045) say: as their celebrations and rites. Nowsard is the name of one of the Hig Here, their common ritual celebration will be daughter. Hig is the Father of Armenian mythos. investigated and each related celebration is compared The day after Amanor, they celebrated one of and discussed according to both countries traditions. their most important and gloriousness celebrations and all of people of all ages attended to the festival 2. Iranian Nowsard (Naurooz) and Armenian and drench each other with water. Navasard Taghizadeh believed that the Armenian Nowsard or Navasard (Naurooz) festivals have adopted Nowsard festival from Iranian and they been in ancient Aryan races as an olden common changed in to John the Baptist festival after believe in tradition. In ancient Armenia the first month of the Jesus Christ. He advocates: "in case of adoption of year was called Navasard. Navasard was celebrated the Iranian festivals by Armenian, it can be said that in the 11th August, in the ancient Armenia calendar. it will be truth in the first celebration of Nowsard or Kings, courties and others were attended in this Vanature festival" Armenian celebration which will festival and the celebration had a special be changed into John the Baptist celebration and also gloriousness. Some of athletic tournament, such as: Nowsard 15th celebration with Anahid festival and horse race, harness racing and foot-race carried out, may be in seventh parabola festival or "Vah Vah" the poet read their own poets and the musicians festival "likely is another type of Vahagan", which is blowed out their own music. Releasing doves was believed that is the same as Iranian Varsarghaneh. another formality in this festival. The Armenian used He added that after adoption of the Jesus many kinds of masks in Navasard festival, some Christ Armenian used their calendar but they changed people believed that mask was ran the evil spirits off. their paganism festivals into Christianity festivals. It 299 Life Science Journal, 2011;8(3) http://www.lifesciencesite.com is understand from "Agatankghos" that the Gregore Naurooz (small), but it denominated from Iranian was chosen the first day of Nowsard which was Nowsard (or Great Naurooz) which was coalesced "Amanor" festival as John the Baptist reminiscence. with it on that year, whether on that time Iranian He expressed that Gregor is determined the seventh tradition encountered with Sunday June 28, just the day of the third month of the Armenian for the same seventh Sunday after the first festival. It was Nastoris apostles and this was encountered with the day which custom that splashing water on each other, whether Gregor established some churches in order to infix Iranian had the same custom in sixth day (day of the sacred relics remaining from these Saints and was Mazdad) of Farvardin (Great Naurooz or Nowsard brought from Qeysarieh. Naurooz). The other author "Gregor Arozroni" about 690 BC declared that this second feast was one of the 4. Iranian Baregendan and Armenian Barekendan Armenian Gods fest from the first, "Vah, Vahan" and The other common festival between Iranian Zarbar Demon, was Zarmad and the first feast (first and Armenian is the Baregendan or Barekendan. In of Nowsard) was Armazd feast, he added two other addition to the similarity of the name, this festival is feasts into the list of the Armenian church which similar in tradition and its pursuance too. According were alterated from the Armenian pagan time. to calendar, the prior to weekly feasts, as Greater Changing of the feast of Armenian pagan time Lent, (with the exception of the feast preceding Holy into Christianity feast is actual in Taqizadeh point of Nativity) are called Barekendan. And Iranian and view, but the factor of this changes was Gregor Noor Armenian are celebrated it the day before Lent is not sure. begins. Baregendan is celebrated on Sunday and run on 8-10 days. The word Baregendan means "good 3. Iranian Nowsard Tradition living" or "good life", as are called to live cheerfully, Nowsard is one of the most ancient traditions joyfully and to be happy on these days preceding that is celebrated in Iran and in many other countries fasting period. In Baregendan all people are from Ma’ad era. Now means bright and Sard means uninhibited in their actions. year, then Nowsard means New Year. Armenia Great Lent begins on Sunday and it Nowsard tradition is one of the especial and will be continued for seven weeks, and Easter will common Aryan tradition which is called Nowsard by come after these seven weeks. Due to variability of Iranian, Navasard by Indian, Nosarej or Navsarji by Easter, pursuance of Baregendan is variable in Kharazmis, Nowsard by Soqdis and Navasard by different years. Armenian. The latest Saturday before Great Lent is called Abo-Reyhan Biruni wrote about Nowsard in "Bon-Baregendan" by Armenian. Baregendan was Soqd: celebrated in ancient Armenia before adoption of “Soqdis divided their months in accordance Christianity. This day is celebrated because winter with the fourth part of the year. First of Nowsard and the problem of winter time were finished from from the month of Soqdi was the first of summer; the one side and the glad tidings of beginning of spring first day of Nowsard was new year for Soqdis which together with happiness are started from the other is the Great Naurooz. He also wrote about Nowsard side. in Kharazm: “Navarsachi, the first day is the Armenian was celebrated this day together beginning of the year and it is new day.” with their friends and family one week before the Taqizadeh wrote about Nowsard: “Nowsard is Great Lent and they lay the cloth and prepare some not the name of the first day of Iranian year or is not amusement in relation with this festival. The actors the well-known Naurooz (the first day of Farvardin = use masks and some athletic competition effectuated small Naurooz), but it is the name of the Great and actor showdown. Naurooz, which celebrated on sixth of Farvardin and Armenian was used mask during hunting, it was equal with the first day of Armenian Navasar because they believed that mask can escape the and Nowsard, the Soqdis month and Nowsarej the unmanageable spirits. Bargendan was celebrated month of Kharazm. This day was very great by before the fasting time in Iran. In ancient time Iranian Iranian and it was really the first day of Iranian year. were celebrated the last days of the month of Shaaban After first leap year, beginning of the year back 5 and Bargendan was celebrated in seven to ten days. days off, this actual Naurooz, became the sixth day of Alaameh Dehkhoda declared that: the year. Iranian were celebrated this day as second "Bargendan, peg a stone or carnival is the feast Naurooz (Great) and it showed continuously the which is celebrated in Shaaban due to arrival of actual Naurooz. Beginning of summer, or perhaps Ramadan" Nastoris (beginning of year) and their ritual tradition He described that: Peg a stone, Bargh Anaz, or “12 apostle” is not denominated from Iranian carnival is a feast which is celebrated at the end of 300 Life Science Journal, 2011;8(3) http://www.lifesciencesite.com Shaaban. The last day of Shaaban is called Carnival According to a tradition, Armenian did not eat by Ali Akbar Nafisi and he described: apple the days before Vartavar and they offer apple to "Bargendan is a festival which is celebrated in each other during the feast.