Armenian Festivals and Holidays
Yerevan Basics :
April 24: Every year on April 24, Armenians all over the world commemorate Armenian Martyrs’ Day, remembering the 1.5 million victims of the Armenian Genocide (1915-1923) perpetuated by the Ottoman Turkish government.
In Armenia, tens of thousands of people make a procession to Tsitsernakaberd (sparrow’s fortress) memorial, in order to pay their respects to those who perished in this massive attempt to eliminate the Armenian people.
May 9: Victory and Peace Day is an official holiday in Armenia, marking the victory of World War II in 1945. On this same day in 1992, during the Karabakh war, Armenian forces liberated Shushi, an ancient Armenian city, from the Azerbaijani military. On this day, the veterans of World War II and the Artsakh Liberation War visit Victory Park in Yerevan and lay flowers on the war memorial.
May 28: The Day of the First Republic of Armenia is an official national holiday. It also marks the celebrations of the liberation
fights for Armenia against Turkish invasion known as the Mayissian herosamarter (heroic May battles). On this day in 1918, the Armenian people restored what was left of historic Armenia to statehood after half a millennium of lost sovereignty. The celebration of this day marks the beginning of the modern Armenian quest for independence, and the establishment of the first Armenian state since the fall of the Kingdom of Cilicia in 1375.