Festivals in Armenia

Every year a number of festivals take place in Armenia during which the visitors have the opportunity to get to know about the Armenian culture, customs and traditions, rituals, delicious cuisine, traditional clothing, etc.

One of the best known festivals in Armenia is 'Areni Wine Festival' which takes place in Areni village. It is a well-known fact that the Armenians are famous for their wine production and the tradition of wine-making has been preserved since ancient times. As we know when Noah's ark rested on the Biblical Mount Ararat, Noah started to cultivate grapes on the slope of this mount. From then on the grape cultivation and hence wine-producing became a tradition in the Ararat valley.

During 'Areni Wine Festival' wine-producing factories as well as individual producers present their wine and one has the opportunity to taste wines and choose the best one according to their taste. During this festival a number of events are organized: wine-making and tasting, food-making and tasting, singing and dancing, as well as various games and competitions. 

During this festival several contests are organized, such as 'Armenia in your eyes' best wine label contest; 'Gold Keg' prize for the best wine among the best wine-producers; Homemade wine-producers contest; 'The best souvenir of the festival'.

Another festival which is worth taking part in is the 'Golden Apricot Yerevan International Film Festival' which is held annually in Yerevan. During this festival new works by Armenian film directors and producers as well as foreign cinematographers of Armenian origin are presented the theme of which is Crossroads of Cultures and Civilizations. It promotes creativity and originality in the area of cinema and video art. The major awards at this festival are the Golden Apricot and Silver Apricot prizes for feature, documentary and Armenian panorama films. 

The main theatre festival in Armenia which takes place annually from October 1 to 8, is 'HIGH FEST International Theater Festival'. It hosts more than 300 artists from 30 different countries (the USA, the UK, Russia, Spain, Italy, Denmark, Israel, Latvia, Croatia and many others) in the world. In the framework of this festival productions in all genres of performing arts are presented such as theatre (drama, comedy, circus, street performances, mime as well as puppetry performances), dance (modern, folk, classic, etc.), music (opera, classical, contemporary, jazz, folk, etc.), etc. The aim of this festival is to create a global culture of collaboration and inspiration.

The Armenians are famous for their handicrafts as well. 'Arts and Crafts Festival' held in Gyumri, Shirak region, is a great opportunity to admire the works by Armenian handy craftsmen, artists, jewelers, carpet weavers and sculptors. This festival includes various events as well, such as theatre performances, national songs and dances, interesting games, etc. The guests are also treated to national dishes. 

The Armenians have their unique national clothing known as Armenian garb (taraz). Apart from being a dress, it signifies much more. By the color and from of taraz it was possible to guess whether the person was married or not and even how many children he/she had. The essential part of women's taraz was the apron on the corners of which a life tree was growing which expressed the idea of couple's prosperity. At the 'Armenian National Cloths Festival (Taraz)' one has the opportunity to see colorful garbs, to learn about the meanings of the colours as well as to enjoy Armenian national music, dances and different performances including puppet performances. 

Those who like the Armenian cuisine can enjoy delicious dishes during several festivals such as 'Bread in the Mountains', 'Tolma Festival', 'Barbeque Festival'. During these festivals individual cooks as well as representatives of different restaurants represent old and new, known and unknown Armenian dishes in separate booths. You will have the opportunity to taste the Armenian traditional dishes as well as to take their recipes. 

So after taking part in abovementioned festivals one will surely get the picture of the Armenian rich culture and unique traditions.  

Enjoy your rest in Armenian SPAs

A spa is a place where mineral water, sometimes sea water and other resources are used for the purpose of improving health, beauty and relaxation. Day spa was always required and nowadays it is considered to be one of the most popular businesses. 

There are many modern spas in Armenia, which offer very effective therapies. The grape and wine spa shall give you an opportunity to feel the magic strength of the Ararat valley sweet grape. Sinking  into the wine bath, you will feel the energy of the Armenian sunny grape, which makes you strong and young. 

Armenian famous “Wine and Grape SPA”, situated in Yerevan, offers you grape and wine bath. It has magical effect on the skin. Still in ancient times the queens used masks and cream made of grape and wine. Your body shall acquire beauty and freshness in the grape and wine spas. It is very effective to have grapeseed peeling, grapeseed oil masks and massage after the grape and wine steam bath. 

 Facial steam bath is made of the grape, wine, grape leaves. It shall widen the skin pores, improves the facial skin metabolism, the blood circulation, contributes to the prompt removal of the died cells. 

 Grape masks  have tightening, renewing, wrinkles removing, skin refreshing effects as there are many useful substances in the grape and wine. Of course, for different types of skin are used different types of grape and wine. After that a grapeseed oil facial massage is coming, which has  positive effect on the skin. It removes  nervous tension and improve the blood circulation. It helps to lose the extra weight and has anti-cellulite properties. 

We all  know about healing mineral water of Jermuk. Annually thousands of tourists come to Jermuk for healing purpose.

 Jermuk “Armenia” Health Spa Hotel is situated in the very heart of Jermuk city. This hotel offers treatment of various diseases, such as gastrointestinal tract diseases, diseases of liver, gall-bladder, gynecological illnesses.

Aya Maria Spa center offers steam bath, peelings, wraps and other SPA services.  Traveling made easy by SPA tour organized by Sputnik.

  “Avanta SPA”offers various massages and therapies. Foam massage with bath peeling on a warm marble table and soapy massage stimulate circulation and tones the skin.

Firming wrap, one of the most popular spa treatment, seems to be women’s favorite one. It helps to eliminate the cellulite and fight against excess weight. The high content of salt and algae mineralize and strengthen the issues. 

Indian head massage is an effective form of massage. The main movement of the massage is rubbing by which the specialist affects the scalp, neck and shoulders.

Foot and leg massage can help reduce stress, accelerate blood circulation. It calms the muscles of the feet, reduces pressure on the toes.

Sport massage is another form of massage, it restores the body after intense physical stress. It has intensive effect on the blood vessels and an increase of muscle strength.

Thai massage has thousands years of practice of curative effect on the human body. Thai massage is concentrated on the relief of human senses because its impact on various acupuncture points along the energy lines of the body.

What about famous stone therapy! It is based on the temperature and energy impact of stones combined with elements of reflexotherapy. 54 black hot and 18 white cold stones are used during the procedure. 

I think you agree with me that aroma massage is a great pleasure. Due to aromas and natural essential oils you feel a deep relaxation. It restores your mental clarity, reduces stress, makes skin elastic and beautiful. Relaxing music and fine fragrances, scented candles activate whole body energetic system and create an aura of comfort and harmony. 

Enjoy Armenian Cuisine in Armenia!

Armenian cuisine includes the foods and cooking techniques of the Armenian people, the Armenian diaspora and traditional Armenian foods and dishes.  The Armenians have old recipes of dishes, which are known and favorite not only in Armenia, but also out of its borders. Like anywhere, the best food in Armenia is home cooking. Khorovats, khash, harissa, kufta, dolma, spas are Armenian national dishes. 

 Khorovats is very tasty Armenian barbecue, which is national food. It is the most representative dish of Armenian  cuisine served and enjoyed in restaurants and family gatherings. It is also one of the best fast food in Armenia. Khorovats is often made with the cuts of pork and potatoes. Armenians outside Armenia usually prefer lamb or beef depending on their background, and chicken is also popular. It is very tasty, when it is made in tonir. 

Armenians look forward cold weather for eating khash early in the morning. It consists of beef, pork or lamb feet that have been slow-cooked overnight in water. It is an old tradition, when all friends and relatives get together to eat tasty khash with crushed garlic and over crumbled dried lavash. Lavash, popular national Armenian bread, is a very thin layer of bread. A vegetarian version of khash replaces the meat with lentils. This version is also served over crumbled dry lavash but is topped with fried onions.

Harissa is a porridge made of wheat and chicken meat cooked together for a long time, originally in the tonir but nowadays over a stove. Traditionally, harissa was prepared on feast days in communal pots and served to all comers. The wheat used in harissa is typically shelled wheat. Lamb or beef is also used as the harissa meat. It is served with butter. 

Kufta is a stuffed meatball made with beef or lamb. It is cooked in the water. One should  cook it professionally for having meatballs. It is served sliced with butter. Now it is also served fried with mushrooms. 

In Armenian cuisine, both wrapped and stuffed dolma is made. Wrapped dolma may use grape leaves (Armenians usually call it terevov tolma) or cabbage leaves (this one is called tpov tolma). Stuffed dolma may use eggplants, tomatoes, peppers, onions. Stuffings typically include lamb, beef or pork combined with rice and herbs. Often, several stuffed vegetables are cooked together.

Spas is tasty and healthy Armenian soup, which may be served hot in the winter as soup or in a hot summer as a cool and refreshing drink. It consists of matzoon, groats  and greens. My Russian friends liked it very much and always asked me to cook it for them. 

It does take some knowledge of Armenian food to enjoy the full variety, and you need to understand that recipes are prepared seasonally, using the freshest meats, vegetables, fruits, herbs and spices available.  You can enjoy Armenian national dishes by visiting us!

Christian holiday-Easter in Armenia

This year Armenian people will celebrate Easter on the 5th of April. As we know it is a great Christian holiday in all Christian countries. Spring in Armenia starts with beautiful holidays. The month April, in which Easter is celebrated, is also the middle of spring. This is one of the best times for traveling to Armenia.

Easter is tasteful and energetic, colorful, blossoming because lent is over and spring joy enters everyone’s heart christening for resurrection and new life. Armenians call Easter “Zatik”. Everybody in the streets and at home greets each other and says: “Christ has arisen”. The answer is “Blessed is the resurrection of Christ”.

Though Easter vacation is short in Armenia, but people prepare with great enthusiasm. Forty days before Easter, Armenian families take lentils or wreaths, put on a tray covered with a thin layer of cotton and keep under sunlight and water it, and till Easter sprouts appear.

These green sprouts, symbolizing spring and awakening of nature, are the “grass” on which people place colored eggs to decorate the Easter table. Generally, women color eggs with different images of the leaves or fully red. For achieving the dark red color, the peels of the purple onion are boiled with the eggs. The very day starts with the egg fight, wherein one tries to crack the egg of his opponent. Children roam with eggs in their hands and pockets, “fighting” with each other. The winner gets the eggs of the loser.

Easter day is marked traditionally with meals of fish or lamb, rice and lavash. Fish are usually served either fried or boiled. Rice is mixed with fried raisins and dried fruits and is served with lavash (Armenian national thin bread).

It is an old tradition, when on the Easter day people walk to the church even if it is very far away from home, in remembrance of Jesus Christ suffering for our sins, and make their dreams come true. They can go to several churches during that day.  Holiday travelers would love to take the pilgrimage with the groups.

Everywhere in Armenia in Yerevan and in every city Easter is celebrated with traditional events, dishes, songs, greetings.

Armenian Food: Dishes Made of Eggs

Armenian food culture is unique in the villages.  Dishes made of eggs play important role in Armenian food culture especially in the rural areas of Armenia.  
Eggs are cooked year-round; dishes are made mainly from chicken and quail eggs, however, occasionally goose, turkey and pigeon eggs are used. 

Eggs in combination with vegetables, mainly with tomatoes (dzvadzeh) are considered to be the most prestigious cuisine.  Eggs are fried with dried meat, such as with basturma and suchuh.  Eggs are also widely consumed in salads, soups, main dishes and bakeries. Armenians keep eggs in bins with flour, in jars with salt, or the wells in boxes fill with pre-warmed river sand. Eggs are used in cheese, also are boiled, and fried with vegetables.  

Havkit dzknkitov - appetizer of hard-boiled eggs and trout caviar.
Dzvi aghtsan - salad of whole cooked egg whites, seasoned with stuffing of hard boiled egg yolks cool with fennel and thyme flavored with lemon juice.
Hatsov dzvadzegh - fried egg with bread.
Sokhov dzvadzegh - fried eggs with slices of sweet white onion.
Panrov dzvadzegh - scrambled egg with "Jill" cheese.
Tomato Dzvadzegh - fried eggs with fresh tomatoes, peeled.

Mhlov - eggs in hard roasted butter not fully fried.
Tsnebekov dzvadzegh - scrambled eggs with asparagus.
Dzvi pnak - pancakes egg-milk mixture with chopped fresh kotem (watercress).
Chulama – scrambled from eight eggs in milk and flour, served with sour cream and spicy red pepper.
Havkit apur - soup of fresh young spinach leaves, sorrel and cutter with sliced hard boiled egg and sour cream.
Chlpur – omlet-like scrambled eggs mass, flavored with garlic and peppermint.
Avinar - scrambled eggs with garlic, matsun (yogurt) and loaves.
Dzvjhur - finely chopped white mushroom fried with onions in oil is added with beaten eggs with parsley and fried until brown. Slices served with unsalted cheese.

From Armenian Food Culture BOOK
Author: Armen Mehrabyan
Source: Armenian Dinner Blog

Spring - Wonderful Season to Visit Armenia

Spring denotes a new beginning of something special. New emotions, feelings, new experiences, impressions, new opportunities: all at once. 

Every day is a new chance to find out something unique that you had never seen or felt before. 

It’s an opportunity to discover the world full of wonders. 

Let’s get started right now. Wonderful season to discover a new land which is always pleased to receive guests.  Armenia is waiting for you! 

Everything is in bloom, aroma of fresh spring flowers besots, sun warms, the soul rejoices, the heart is filled with love and warmth. 

Definitely, everyone wants to be part of something unusual which will become part of its life history. 

So, why do not take a step right now?!!

Every day can become an unforgettable event of your life in the country where the wonders of nature admire the eyes. The sky and the earth are so close that they seem inseparable. It seems that little by little you also become a part of this indescribable beauty.

Today is Tuesday, 25 March, do not waste time, and just make your decision. Do not care of anything. All organizational issues will be resolved by experienced travel agents. Even booking hotel is not an easy job to make for those who are not familiar with local conditions in spite of large number of hotel booking sites. So finding a good travel agent is a must. Becoming your own partner the travel agent will accompany you during your entire journey and will facilitate all potential difficulties.  

Travel agents have already started preparing for the new season.  Lots of tours full of adventures are ready now. 

It’s soon Easter in Armenia: one of the most favorite holidays in the Christian world. You also have the opportunity to participate in the celebration of this wonderful holiday. There is nothing more pleasant than to share the joy with loved ones. 

So, hurry up! We are waiting for you here in Armenia.

Author: Armine Ghazaryan

Art and Therapy or Utilizing Strength of Human's Creativity

Creating an art is becoming a mean for a therapy, because the process of creating something requires intensive emotions and energy. And it helps naturally reveal inner difficulties and negative reactions that can hurt children, if not cleaned.

Art therapy is a form of psychotherapy that uses art media as its primary mode of communication. Children are asked to freely create a piece of art, and qualified, registered Art Therapists discloses difficulties, disabilities and diagnoses problems, if they exist. These include, for example, emotional, behavioral or mental health problems, learning or physical disabilities, life-limiting conditions, brain-injury or neurological conditions and physical illness.

Art therapy for children can provide kids with an easier way to express themselves since children are more naturally artistic and creative.  Art therapy may be provided for groups, or for individuals, depending on children' needs. It is not a recreational activity or an art lesson, although the sessions can be enjoyable. Children do not need to have any previous experience or expertise in art.

Art therapy for children can be a much more viable solution for communication than simply having a conversation and talking about things. Art therapy can help children relieve stress, increase awareness of self, and develop healthy and effective coping skills. Children of all ages, nationalities, races and cultures can benefit from art therapy. Art therapy programs are developed around a child’s strengths and abilities, so the kid can use the medium even if he or she has never picked up a crayon before.

Even though art therapy is exposed to children it widely used among adults, and they really enjoy it not less than kids. It is the therapeutic use of art making, within a professional relationship, by people who experience illness, trauma, or challenges in living, and by people who seek personal development. Through creating art and reflecting on the art products and processes, people can increase awareness of self and others, cope with symptoms, stress, and traumatic experiences, enhance cognitive abilities  and enjoy the life-affirming pleasures of making art.

Author: Siranush Hakobyan, Art Therapist at  Aya Maria Wellness and SPA Resort
Art therapy in Armenia began to develop since 2010  and  there are only few children's centers that practice art therapy. Aya Maria Wellness and SPA Center opened in 2012, using art therapy as one main activity. The course is run by Siranush Hakobyan, certified Art Therapist.  Aya Maria organizes art therapy for people of different ages.