May 12 is a holiday in Georgia. Holidays in Georgia
Everyone knows that Georgians know how to celebrate like no one else and know a lot about feasts, delicious food and good wine. Therefore, there is nothing surprising in how folk holidays are honored and respected in Georgia.
Main holidays of Georgia
One of the most important holidays in Georgia. It is based on Georgia’s acquisition of a great Orthodox shrine – the Robe of the Lord. Thanks to the discovery of such an important relic, the main temple of the country, the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, was built in Mtskheta.
Every year on this day a festive service is held, after which a mass baptism is held, which has become a Georgian holiday tradition. Also on this day, it is customary to visit the ancient Jvari monastery and other ancient temples, of which there are many in Georgia.
This is a big church holiday dedicated to the arrival of St. Nino in Georgia, who brought the Christian faith with her to Georgia.
The relics of the saint are located in the Bodbe Monastery in Kakheti. Every year on June 1, hundreds of pilgrims come here, and a solemn service is held in the Zion Temple in Tbilisi.
Queen Tamara is the wisest and greatest ruler of Georgia, whose government took place at the beginning of the 13th century. Under her rule, Georgia experienced unprecedented prosperity, spirituality and enlightenment. For her great deeds, the church canonized her as a saint.
This is one of the main national holidays of Georgia. The main celebration takes place in Akhaltsikhe, where there is a monument in her honor.
Saint George is the most revered and beloved saint among Georgians. On this day, all churches in Georgia ring their bells and believers kneel in prayer to St. George. He is asked for well-being in the family, the health of loved ones and peace.
On November 23, a solemn liturgy is celebrated at the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Tbilisi. In Georgia, this is an official day off on which they relax and devote time to their families.
On March 31, 1991, the independence of Georgia was declared, but Georgians celebrate the anniversary of independence on May 26, since it was on this day, in 1918, that Georgia first gained independence.
There are parades and concerts all over the country. Also on this day, a flower festival is traditionally held.
National Unity Day is a harbinger of Georgian independence. Since the events of April 9, the idea of sovereignty has been firmly established among Georgians and the national unity for which they are so famous was born. On this date, in 1989, USSR troops were brought into Georgia with the aim of suppressing rallies for the independence of Georgia. Today, on this day, Georgians remember the heroes who fell for the freedom of their country and bring flowers to memorials.
Rtveli
An ancient Georgian holiday in honor of the grape harvest day. It is not tied to any date, since the grape harvest differs in different parts of Georgia. If you want to see real Georgian traditions, try to attend this holiday.
The Rtveli holiday is fun, dancing, laughter, songs, and, of course, the famous Georgian wine, which flows like a stream on this day.
New Year
One of the most important and vibrant holidays, which Georgians love very much and know how to celebrate so noisily and cheerfully that hardly anyone is able to compete with them. Celebrating the New Year in Georgia, you literally enjoy every minute of the feast.
In Georgia, the holiday, adored by everyone, has its own characteristic features and traditions of celebration. For example, in addition to the New Year tree, Georgians also decorate chichikali - a homemade Christmas tree made of wood. After the New Year, the chichikali is burned so that all the problems and hardships accumulated over the year will be burned along with it.
The New Year's table in Georgia is also special. It's not just beautifully laid out, it's simply bursting with the number of dishes on it. Here you will find spicy marinades, juicy boiled pork, savitsi with khachapuri, homemade cheese, fried pig, honey gozinaki, churchkhella and much, much more.
Easter and Christmas in Georgia
The most important and great Christian holidays that have been celebrated in Georgia since time immemorial. Adults and children are always waiting for them with great desire. The traditions of celebrating Easter in Georgia are very similar to ours. Georgians also bake Easter cakes, paint eggs and go to church.
But celebrating Christmas in Georgia is a little different from ours. On the night before Christmas, the liturgy begins in all churches in Georgia. And after the service, early in the morning, the solemn procession “Alilo” begins. Christians with priests walk through the streets of cities and sing church songs, thus symbolizing the good news of the birth of Jesus. On Christmas night, Georgians place lighted candles on their windows in memory of biblical events. Among the culinary traditions, it is worth highlighting querzi - Georgian holiday flatbreads.
Weekends in Georgia in 2018
Weekends for holidays in Georgia in 2018
Weekends for public holidays in Georgia in 2018
Weekends for religious holidays in Georgia in 2018
January 2018
These days, New Year holidays are celebrated in Georgia.
Day of the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ.
On this day in Georgia they celebrateEpiphany - Day of the Holy Epiphany of our Lord Jesus Christ. This is a public holiday and an official day off
Note: public holiday celebrated on January 14, 2018 National Flag Day is not a day off in Georgia.
February 2018
There are no holidays in Georgia in February 2018. Accordingly, there are no days off on these days
March 2018
On this day in Georgia they celebrateMothers Day. This is a public holiday and an official day off
On this day in Georgia they celebrateInternational Women's Day. This is a public holiday and an official day off
April 2018
These days are celebrated in Georgia Easter days - Good Friday, Great Saturday, Day of the Bright Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ; All Souls' Day - the second day after Easter, Monday . These are public holidays and official holidays
Due to the fact that Easter is a moving holiday, another holiday falls on April 9 - the Day of Restoration of Independence of Georgia. The number of days off does not change.
On this day in Georgia they celebrate Day of adoption of the Act on the restoration of state independence of Georgia, Day of national unity, civil harmony and memory of those who died for the Motherland .
May 2018
On this day in Georgia they celebrateVictory Day over Fascism. This is a public holiday and an official day off
On this day in Georgia they celebrateDay of St. Apostle Andrew the First-Called - the founder of the Georgian Church as an Apostolic Council. This is a public holiday and an official day off
On this day in Georgia they celebrateGeorgian Independence Day. This is a national holiday and an official day off.
June 2018
There are no holidays in June 2018 in Georgia. Accordingly, there are no days off on these days
July 2018
There are no holidays in Georgia in July 2018. Accordingly, there are no days off on these days
August 2018
On this day in Georgia they celebrateDay of the Assumption of Our Lady Most Holy Theotokos (Mariamoba). This is a public holiday and an official day off
September 2018
There are no holidays in Georgia in September 2018. Accordingly, there are no days off on these days
October 2018
On this day in Georgia they celebrateMtskhetoba (Svetitkhovloba) - the holiday of the Robe of the Lord and the Life-Giving Pillar. This is a public holiday and an official day off
November 2018
On this day in Georgia they celebrateGiorgoba, St. George's Day. This is a public holiday and an official day off
December 2018
There are no holidays in December 2018 in Georgia. Accordingly, there are no days off on these days
Weekends in Georgia:
- Saturday and Sunday
Georgia is a country that is loved by many. Some people admire its nature. Its culture is multifaceted, its people are multinational. There are a lot of holidays here! Some belong only to ethnic groups and are celebrated based on Georgian traditions. Others represent the heterogeneity of European and Eastern cultures.
Day of Destiny
National holidays in Georgia have their own unique appeal and touchingness. Let's get acquainted with them. Bedoba, or Fate Day, is celebrated on January 2. Every person always hopes for the best, dreams about a profitable job, about a loved one, about beautiful children, that is, about his life being successful. This is probably why Georgians revere Bedoba so much. On this day, they wear everything clean and beautiful, lovingly prepared the day before. Quarrels, swearing, and arguments are considered a terrible sin. You can't even get sick. Well, if the sores have already overtaken you, appear cheerful, don’t whine, don’t groan. It is considered a bad omen to be separated from family. On this day, fun continues on the street, round dances, fireworks, music. But everyone is in a hurry to return to the house before lunch, so as not to be absent from the house for a whole year. Destiny Day is spent at home with loved ones. By the way, many holidays in Georgia are associated with family.
Tbilisoba
Tbilisoba is a holiday of trade fairs, wine tastings, folk festivals and street concerts. Dedicated to the city of Tbilisi, which is reflected in its name. On this day, car traffic is blocked. Artists and singers come to concerts with their programs. At fairs selling farm products, the fruits of the harvest rise in huge mountains. Craftsmen present their crafts to the judgment of their fellow citizens. The holiday has gone beyond the borders; the diaspora celebrates it in Moscow, St. Petersburg and other cities of Russia.
Chiakokonoba
Chiakokonoba is an ancient pagan holiday. It has an analogy with our Ivan Kupala. Celebrated on the Wednesday before Maundy Thursday. At night, high fires are lit. Men, women, teenagers jump through the fire, undergoing a rite of purification.
Spring Festival
Navrus, or Spring Festival, is an ethnic Muslim holiday. It is celebrated by Azerbaijanis and Adjarian Georgians. It symbolizes the beginning of a new life and is the most ancient holiday on Earth. A cheerful holiday with songs and dances. The feast must include sweets. No one knows how to prepare pakhvala and shorgals like Georgian housewives. Do I want to? Dried fruits and nuts beautifully arranged in wicker are unforgettable beauty and taste.
Mothers Day
Mother's Day is celebrated on March 3rd. Everyone's favorite day. Georgians are very good sons and daughters. On this day, the streets are filled with flowers, women receive bouquets and gifts from loved ones, sons and friends. On this day, concerts on the streets attract crowds of people. The attitude towards mothers in Georgia is very respectful. Every Georgian honors his family, is proud of his origin, and greatly values family and kinship relationships. Many close and distant relatives gather at the table on this day.
Giorgoba
Georgia is mainly an Orthodox country. Church holidays in Georgia glorify their national saints and generally recognized world saints. Many pilgrims from all over the world come to the country to worship the companions of the Christian faith.
Giorgoba is the feast of St. George. All churches, all monasteries in the country celebrate this great day. Georgians revere this saint so much that his days of glory have become public holidays and declared non-working days.
Mareamoba
Mareamoba - Dormition of the Holy Virgin is a surprisingly peaceful holiday, covered with sincere sadness. Georgians believe that their country is under the vigilant guardianship of the Mother of God, so this holiday is especially revered by them.
Svetitkhovloba
Svetitskholoba is the holiday of the Robe of the Lord and the Life-Giving Pillar. Every Orthodox Georgian has absorbed with their mother's milk the story of how two clergymen brought Jesus' tunic - the veil in which he was executed. A myrrh-streaming cedar grew at the burial site of the tunic. Suffering people came to him, hugged the tree, laid hands on it, and he brought them healing. The pillars for the church that was built there were made from cedar trunks. On this day, believers are baptized, and a huge number of people attend beautiful church services.
Lampproba
Lamproba is the oldest holiday in Georgia. It is dedicated to St. George the Victorious. He was born among the most beautiful places in Georgia - Sainthood, a place where the traditions of his ancestors are still observed. The holiday is dedicated to victory over enemies. On this day, a feast is held in houses, torches are lit according to the number of men there.
Unity Day
Like any self-respecting country, there are also public holidays in Georgia. On April 9, National Unity Day is celebrated - this is the day when the country honors the memory of soldiers who defended the freedom of their homeland and died for this freedom in 1989, when the USSR sent its troops into Georgia.
Valentine's Day
Our country celebrates Valentine's Day, and Georgia has its own holiday - Valentine's Day. Georgian youth celebrates it on the fifteenth of April. Flowers, gifts, hugs, kisses, declarations of love to the grave - everything, like all lovers.
New Year's Eve. Peculiarities
What other holiday is celebrated in Georgia? New Year. Separately, I would like to talk about unusual traditions during the New Year. In every home, along with the Christmas tree, so-called chichilaki appear before the holiday. These are wooden sticks decorated with thin shavings. This product is associated with sweets, dried fruits, and toys. After the holiday, chichilaki are burned so that all the bad things disappear along with the smoke. The New Year's table must not only be plentiful, it must squat under the weight of deliciousness. Preparing food for the holiday begins two weeks before it. The counters of shops and markets present a cornucopia. You will find everything you dream about and even “I don’t know what.” Then next year will be as nourishing and full as this table.
Preparing for the New Year
Preparations for the celebration begin long before the New Year. Georgian housewives are very careful about general cleaning of their apartment, house, yard, garden, and workplace. Carpets are cleaned, featherbeds, pillows and mattresses are dried, curtains are washed or replaced with new ones, windows are washed, every centimeter of furniture and floors are wiped down. The New Year is celebrated in accordance with ancient rituals, which Georgians have carefully preserved to this day.
Rituals and rules for the New Year holidays
On New Year's holidays in Georgia you cannot sleep at night, so as not to oversleep your happiness. It is believed that if the doors are open on New Year's Eve, happiness walking along the streets will definitely look into the house and settle in for the whole next year. A very beautiful ceremony. Many rituals are associated with bread. For the holiday, Georgians bake a white loaf in the shape of a donut, which is hung on a vine. The ritual attracts wealth and health.
Many families set up a small table with sweets at night. It is placed in the middle of the room, and a candle is placed in each corner of the house. Exactly at midnight, the head of the family with this table in his hands walks around the house, attracting an angel to the family. He will bring happiness in the future and will protect everyone living in this house throughout the year.
At 12 o'clock the head of the family goes out into the street and shoots. According to Georgian belief, one shot kills one evil spirit. Of course, now on New Year's Eve there are fireworks, but the tradition of killing the evil spirit is still alive. A very beautiful belief is associated with the mekvle, the person who first appeared in the house on January 1st. If the next year is hospitable and happy for the owners, it means their mekvle has a pure and bright soul. Such a person becomes a welcome guest forever. And on January 1 next year he is specially invited. Another tradition on January 1st. On this day, fun continues on the street, round dances, fireworks, music. But everyone is in a hurry to return to the house before lunch, so as not to be absent from it for a whole year.
Rtveli
And, of course, it deserves attention in Georgia! Still, here it is not the New Year that is a family holiday, but undoubtedly Rtveli. This holiday is dedicated to the god Dionysus, and it has its roots in paganism. During Christianity, the famous Greek orgies sank into oblivion. But people continue to sincerely enjoy the new wine and organize grandiose feasts. The celebration is distinguished by a sincere desire to show all kinds of recipes for Georgian wines.
Cheese Festival
In addition to holidays in Georgia, there are also festivals of various types. - a large-scale event. In 2015 it became an international festival. Cheese lovers come from all over the world. Guests can taste a huge number of Georgian and Caucasian types of product. During the festival, cheese makers demonstrate the ancient art of cheese making and braiding techniques. There are cheeses in butter, in honey with flowers. Therefore, you need to come to the festival hungry so that the tasting is complete.
Grape Harvest Festival
The most famous Georgian festival is the Rtveli grape harvest. Takes place in the wine-making center of Kakheti. The ritual of starting the festival celebration begins in the family. The grape bunches are placed in beautiful wicker baskets and clay jugs, then the festival of young wine in Georgia begins. Music and songs do not stop until late at night. This event is one of the most beloved by Georgians.
Folk festival
The annual folklore festival features performers and songwriters. National song and dance groups prepare for performances long before the holiday. The ethnic festival annually revives the traditions of the talented Georgian people. National clothes, lively dances, melodious tunes of Georgian soulful songs attract the younger generation and a huge number of tourists.
Quiricoba
What is the nearest holiday in Georgia in 2018? July 27-28 - Quiricoba. Feast of the memory of the martyrs Kvirike and Ivlite. This is the only day when you can touch the Shaliana icon.
OTHER HOLIDAYS IN GEORGIA
“TBILISOBA” - TBILISI City Day and HARVEST HOLIDAY
in October
The annual holiday dedicated to the city of Tbilisi is held in October (either at the beginning or at the end of October - different every year). People from all regions of Georgia come to the capital to celebrate Tbilisoba. During this holiday, the streets of the city are decorated, trade fairs, wine tastings, exhibitions and sales of Georgian agricultural products, souvenirs and handicrafts are held. Folk festivals and open-air concerts are held.
"BERIKAOBA" - Costume folk carnival
from January to March
In Tbilisi, not far from the puppet museum, there is an interesting sculpture called “Berikadoba” - a dance in a circle. “Berikaoba” is an ancient holiday, a costumed carnival, unlimited by a specific date. This is a theatrical, improvised holiday, during which people put on various funny masks, masquerade costumes, go out into the street, dance and sing.
The holiday dates back to pagan times and is associated with the agricultural cult of fertility and pagan deities. “Berikaoba” also personifies the struggle between winter and spring, which ends with the victory of spring, as well as the struggle against foreign invaders. Previously, in Georgia there were folk actors, “beriks,” who staged an impromptu mask theater with singing and dancing. Traditional “Berik” masks: groom, bride, matchmaker, judge, doctor, priest, boar, goat, bear, etc. Performances were held at Easter, during other religious holidays, at weddings, etc. All roles were played, as a rule, by men. The songs and melodies performed during “Berikadoba” were called “berikul”. This holiday is celebrated in Georgia even today. Disguised actors and residents of cities and villages take to the streets. They perform performances in the genre of pantomime, creating artistic images with the help of plasticity and gestures. “Berikaoba” begins at the end of the Nativity fast on January 7 and lasts until the end of March.
"CHIACOKONOBA"
ancient pagan moving holiday
This ancient pagan holiday is celebrated in Georgia on the night of Maundy Thursday (Maundy Thursday, Thursday of Holy Week). On this day, residents of the country light fires and jump over them. This is believed to cleanse away evil spirits. Children love to participate in this holiday. According to ancient Georgian legends, in the forests there live certain creatures that can be seen at night: small forest people called “chinka” (on the holiday “Chiakokonoba” they light a fire to drive away the chinok). There is even a legend that the Persian warriors, who captured the territory of Georgia on the day when the “Chiakokonoba” holiday was supposed to take place and it did not take place, were frightened at night by the appearance of the Chinks. The Persians were forced to leave the occupied territories. The Georgian Orthodox Church opposes the celebration of “Chiakokonoba”, considering it a manifestation of paganism - fire worship. But still, every year in Georgia on this night they light bonfires, jump over them and have fun until the morning.
"LOMISOBA"
June
"Lomisoba" is a very unusual holiday that arose in Georgia in the pre-Christian era. The holiday is local and not particularly advertised. “Lomisoba” takes place on the first Wednesday after Trinity at the Church of St. George on Mount Lomisi (gorge of the Aragvi and Ksani rivers) and in the village of Mleta (Eastern Georgia). This holiday is both Christian and not quite. The official church looks at him somewhat suspiciously. The fact is that Lomisoba is accompanied by numerous sacrifices (sacrificing rams by cutting off their heads) and other semi-pagan rituals. Children are also placed on the ground and adults step on them with their feet (formally). It is believed that this brings happiness. On this day, in the temple itself there is a line of people who want to carry a heavy iron chain through the church. It is believed that if you make a wish and carry the chain, your wish will come true.
There are many legends associated with Mount Lomisi. This place has been considered a place of power and miracles for many centuries. The history of the name of this place is connected with the bull "Loma", which led captive Georgians from Persia, climbed the mountain where the monastery is now located and immediately gave up the ghost. The icon of St. George, which was tied to the horns of a bull, fell to the ground and remained standing in an upright position. Therefore, a monastery was founded here, bearing the name of the bull - “Lomisa”, and at the same time it is the monastery of St. George (the same icon of St. George is kept here). In Georgia there are no Christian churches and monasteries bearing the name of any animal and “Lomisi” is a fact of the antiquity of the monastery, which arose on the threshold of pagan beliefs and Orthodoxy. In Lomisi, the childless asked for continuation of the family, the blind - for insight, peasants - for the fertility of the land and livestock. And, according to numerous stories of local residents and inhabitants of the monastery, the place is truly miraculous.
“LAMPROBA” - Svan holiday of victory over enemies
10 weeks until Easter
“Lamproba” is an ancient Svan folk holiday as a sign of victory over enemies and dedicated to St. George the Victorious, the patron saint of Georgia. The date of the holiday is variable - ten weeks before Easter, usually celebrated in February. At dawn, everyone comes out of their houses in national costumes, holding lit torches in their hands. Now on the day of Lamproba, in every house in Svaneti, as many torches are lit as there are men in the family. And if there is a pregnant woman in the house, then a torch is lit in honor of the child she is carrying, because it could be a boy! The torch is made from a single tree trunk, the top of which is split into several parts. A procession of men with burning torches heads towards the church. A large fire of torches is built in the churchyard, and tables are set there. All night until the first rays of the sun appear, the Svans read prayers, remember their ancestors and raise toasts.
The following legend has been preserved about the origin of this holiday. Once upon a time, detachments of Muslim robbers entered Svaneti from the north. They ravaged the villages and prepared to return with the stolen goods. But then a heavy snowfall began, which cut off the way back, blocking the passes. The robbers had to stay in Svaneti. They dispersed to houses in several Svan villages located close to each other. The Svans at a secret meeting decided to kill the invaders. To weaken their opponents a little, the Svans left only pigs in their houses. Since the newcomers were Muslims and did not eat pork, they had to starve. The attack on the uninvited guests was supposed to take place at night, and simultaneously in all houses. For this, torches were needed, both for lighting and for sending a signal to neighboring villages. Having killed the uninvited guests in their house, the Svan men rushed to the aid of their neighbors. Everything happened quickly and ended in victory, the invaders were destroyed. This event was attended by the entire male population, young and old, who could hold a burning torch in their hands.
“SHOTAOBA” - Celebration in honor of the poet SHOTA RUSTAVELI
The national holiday "Shotaoba" was held annually in 1996-1998 in the city of Rustavi in connection with the 800th anniversary of the great Shota Rustaveli's poem "The Knight in the Skin of a Tiger." Under the patronage of the wife of the former President of Georgia, Saakashvili, Lady Sandra Roelofs, the holiday was revived again and is celebrated every year on October 14 in Ikalto.
According to legend, the great Georgian poet Shota Rustaveli studied at the Ikaltoi Academy. He glorified these places in his poem “The Knight in the Skin of a Tiger”: “Even the elders get younger when they come to us here. There are always feasts and dances, singing, music, food. Here the flowers are fragrant and never fade..." They decided to dedicate this holiday to the memory of the great countryman, named Shotaoba in his honor.
This holiday is a folk holiday, a youth holiday, a holiday of summing up work and a holiday of rest. Students of the People's University of Culture, prominent scientists, writers and anyone else gather in Ikalto.
"PETRAPAVLOBA" - Day of Remembrance of the Apostles PETER and PAUL
The Day of Remembrance of the Apostles Peter and Paul (“Petropavloba”) is celebrated in Georgia on July 12. These apostles preached Christianity among Jews and pagans, which is why they are called the supreme ones. On this day, which ends the many-day fast of Peter, every believer must take communion and receive a blessing.
“NIKOLOZOBA” - Day of Remembrance of SAINT NICHOLAS THE WONDERWORKER
On December 19, Georgia celebrates the Orthodox holiday “Nikolozoba” - the Day of Remembrance of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, who is one of the most revered saints in Georgia and is considered one of the patrons of the Georgian Orthodox Church. It should be noted that in Tbilisi alone there are five churches named after St. Nicholas the Wonderworker.
"MOTSAMETOBA"
Feast of the remembrance of the martyrs DAVID and CONSTANTINE
Brothers David and Constantine, princes of Argvet (rulers of Western Georgia), suffered for the faith of Christ from Muslims in the 8th century. Raised in the Orthodox faith from childhood, the brothers were not only worthy rulers and courageous military leaders, but also pious Christians. In the 30s of the VIII century. hordes of Muslims led by Mervan the Deaf (nephew of the prophet Magamet) invaded Georgia. The brothers David and Constantine managed to repel the first Muslim invasion (731 - 734) on the Argveti region. However, during the second Mervan of the Deaf (732-744), the brothers were captured. They wanted to force them to convert to Islam and go over to the side of the enemy. For ten days the martyrs were subjected to hunger, thirst, beatings with sticks and torture, but all was in vain. The brothers held firm and did not renounce the Christian faith. After much torment, David and Constantine were thrown into the Fasis River (now the Rioni River) with stones around their necks. By evening, three pillars of light rose above the river, and the bodies of the holy martyrs appeared on the surface, freed from their fetters and shining like the faces of the sun.
In the 11th century, during the hunt of King Bagrat VI the Great Bagration (1027 - 1072), the incorruptible relics of the holy brothers were found in a cave from which a shining light emanated. The king built the MOTSAMETA (Georgian - martyrs) church in their honor and founded the Motsameta Monastery, where the relics of the great martyrs were buried. The relics of the holy brothers became famous for their numerous healings. And all Orthodox Georgians still revere this place
"Motsametoba" - the day of remembrance of the martyrs David and Constantine is celebrated on October 15. The central events take place at the Motsameta Monastery. The ark with the relics of the Saints is now located in the main temple, on a hill to the right of the entrance. Under it there is a passage about half the height of a man. The custom is to walk around the ark several times through this passage. The monastery is located 3 km from the city of Kutaisi.
New Year
The series of holiday dates opens with the New Year. The holiday, beloved all over the world, has acquired its national characteristics and wonderful traditions in Georgia. Well, for example, such a main New Year's attribute as a Christmas tree.
In Georgia, in addition to the green pine beauty, every family decorates with chichilaki.
Before the holiday, wooden sticks entwined with snow-white shavings begin to be sold on the streets. These sticks are called "chichilaki". This is the so-called beard of St. Basil, the patron saint of animals. The sticks are made from logs, chopped into thin shavings, like a gray beard. They are decorated with dried fruits. And then, after the New Year holidays, they burn it. It is believed that everything bad that happened in the past year goes away with the ashes.
The New Year's table in Georgia should not only be beautifully and plentifully laid, but literally bursting with all kinds of dishes. Here you can find satsivi, juicy boiled pork, spicy marinades, melt-in-your-mouth khachapuri, several types of homemade cheese, and sweet churchkhella.
There are dishes in Georgia that no New Year's table is complete without. This is a roasted pig, symbolically promising prosperity, honey gozinaki (roasted nuts) to make life as sweet as honey. And in general, the more sweets on the New Year's table, the sweeter the year will be.
At the head of the table, of course, is wonderful wine, which on this night simply flows like a river to the clink of glasses and eloquent toasts. And of course, what would a feast be without songs and dances. Georgian polyphony is the most culminating moment of the holiday. And it is unknown who gets more pleasure from this: the listeners or the performers themselves, each selflessly performing his own vocal part.
At exactly midnight, colorful fireworks and fireworks flash in the sky. Someone will say that this custom is quite modern, but among Georgians it has ancient origins. It was believed that with each shot the shooter hits an evil spirit, and in the New Year good will triumph over evil.
There is another interesting New Year's custom. It is called “Mekvle” and is still popular in Georgian villages. “Mekvle” is the person who first crosses the threshold of the house in the new year. It can bring both happiness and misfortune. The villagers already know about people with a “lucky leg” and invite them to the house in advance, and they give the owners a basket of wine, sweets and boiled pork, wishing them happiness in the new year.
Easter, Christmas
These two biggest Christian holidays have been celebrated in Georgia since time immemorial. Their offensive is always awaited with great desire and trepidation. Every believer associates them with new hopes and events. On Easter in Georgia, as in Russia, they bake Easter cakes, paint eggs, and consecrate them in church. But Christmas in Georgia is celebrated with some peculiarities. The night before, a solemn service begins in all the churches of the country. In Tbilisi, it takes place in the Holy Trinity Cathedral, headed by the Catholicos-Patriarch. And after the service, the most interesting and spectacular thing begins: the festive procession “Alilo”.
Alilo is a Christmas carol that ends on the night before Christmas. It was the name of the chant that formed the basis of the tradition that arose in Georgia several centuries ago. This tradition has always been of a charitable nature - on Christmas, people went from house to house and collected donations, which were subsequently given to poor people. Year after year, over the centuries, the Alilo tradition has been strictly observed in Georgia.
After the prayer service on Christmas night, the holiday moves from churches to the streets. In Tbilisi, Alilo is spectacular. The Alilo festive procession in Tbilisi begins from Rose Square. Every year, clergy, parishioners of various churches and ordinary townspeople and passers-by take part in it. Baskets intended for collecting donations are carried by oxen on special carts. Carts move slowly along the road, and people gradually fill their baskets.
Children walk ahead of the procession, personifying angels. Their heads are decorated with wreaths of beautiful flowers. They are followed by shepherds, who symbolically point to those shepherds who announced the birth of Jesus Christ. Students dressed in white shrouds and chanting carry an icon of the Savior, crosses and flags. The procession ends with a caravan of wise men and people singing Christmas songs. On the way they are joined by ordinary passers-by. Both adults and children become participants in the common joy.
Everything that is collected during the procession - sweets, toys and clothes - is given to children deprived of parental care and poor citizens. The festive procession of Alilo passes through the Baratashvili rise and Avlabari Square and ends near the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity. From the street the procession moves to the cathedral. Before the start of the festive prayer service, Catholicos Patriarch of All Georgia Ilya II addresses the flock and congratulates all believers on the occasion of the Nativity of Christ.
And on Christmas night, candles are lit in every Georgian house. They are specially placed near the window so that the light is visible to passersby. This tradition is observed in memory of the distant biblical events when Joseph and Mary sought shelter for the birth of a son. Georgian Christmas also has its own culinary traditions. For this holiday, housewives bake querzi - delicious Christmas cakes.
Happy Georgian women have two wonderful women's holidays in March: Mother's Day and International Women's Day. The first holiday began to be celebrated in the country recently, in 1991. But in its short history, it has managed to firmly fit into the holiday calendar.
On this spring day, city streets are literally buried in flowers. They are sold at every turn, and demand still exceeds supply, because on this day there are no those who would not congratulate their loved ones, dear mothers, grandmothers, and wives. The cult of the mother is sacred for Georgians. There was even a huge statue erected in Tbilisi symbolizing Mother, Motherland, Georgia... On Mother’s Day, a festive mood comes not only to every home, but also to every city. In Tbilisi, for example, there are many interesting festive events: concerts, shows, charity events, folk festivals...
Every woman dreams of celebrating March 8th in Georgia! It is well known what gallant gentlemen and ladies' men Georgians are. And on this day they try especially hard, giving their ladies compliments, flowers, gifts and, most importantly, such reverent attention that even the Snow Queen’s heart can melt. Speaking of queens. This honorary title on this day belongs to all women gathered at the festive table. Amazing Georgian wine sparkles in the glasses, wonderful toasts sound to the glory of female beauty, charm, wisdom... The speeches become longer and longer, and now they turn into whole songs... In a word, the holiday that Georgian men give to their women is a real fairy tale!
This holiday can be safely called a harbinger of Georgian independence. It was from the events of April 9 that the idea of the country’s sovereignty began to grow stronger and take on new forms of political struggle. On that tragic day of April 9, 1989, Soviet troops were brought into Georgia with the aim of suppressing popular rallies demanding the restoration of Georgia's independence. As a result, 30 people were killed and more than 200 were injured.
On this day, the country remembers everyone who fell in the struggle for the happiness and freedom of their native land. Civil memorial services are held in churches. In Tbilisi, flowers and lighted candles are brought to the memorial in memory of those killed on April 9.
It’s no wonder that loving Georgians have two love holidays on their calendar.
Georgians came up with their own alternative to the internationally recognized Valentine's Day several years ago. Young people supported this idea, and now April 15 is the favorite holiday of all young happy couples in love. On this day they give each other flowers and gifts, arrange surprises and romantic evenings. In Tbilisi, concerts (only love songs), romantic shows and competitions are dedicated to this wonderful day...
Easter
The Feast of the Resurrection of Christ has always been celebrated in Georgia with special solemnity. Preparations for Easter began, as elsewhere, after the Feast of the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem.
Christians in Georgia spend Good Friday in fasting and prayer, with families attending all statutory services. In some regions of the country, the tradition of “purification by fire” is still preserved. On Great Wednesday in the evening they light a large fire and jump over it, perceiving this as a symbol of purification. On this day, everyone tries to confess in order to receive communion on Maundy Thursday. Maundy Thursday is especially recognized by the people as the day of the establishment of the Eucharist.
Orthodox Georgians deeply experience Good Friday as the most mournful and important day of the year. On this day they not only do not eat, but also do not work; they spend the whole day in church. After completing the rite of burial of the Holy Shroud, returning home in the evening, they begin to prepare for the holiday.
On Holy Saturday, early in the morning, the Shroud is carried around the church, after which it is placed in the center of the temple. On Holy Saturday, believers must observe strict fasting; those preparing for communion at the Easter service should not eat after 6 pm.
On the night of Holy Saturday, after 12 o'clock, a litany is performed. Parishioners congratulate each other with the phrase “Hristeagdga!”, to which they respond “Cheshmaritadagdga!”
Every year on May 9, Georgia marks the next date of victory over fascism. In Tbilisi, celebrations take place in Vake Park at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. On this day, from the very morning, a brass band is playing in the park, couples are spinning around the summer stage, everything is in flowers... As if nothing has changed since that memorable spring of 1945... Only the veterans are no longer young strong men, but gray-haired old men. Since early morning, the flow of people wishing to lay flowers at the foot of the memorials and the Eternal Flame and to personally congratulate veterans with a bouquet of flowers has not dried up. This holiday is dedicated to them, the war heroes, today the warmest words, congratulations and wishes are heard for them, concerts and ceremonial banquets are held.
Let's look into the chronicle of Georgian history, at the time when the fair and wise Queen Tamar ruled Georgia. The reign of Tamar occurred at the turn of the 12th-13th centuries. This time became the “golden age” of Georgia, the heyday of enlightenment, peace, and spirituality.
The queen was able to unite the mountaineers of other faiths under her leadership, reconcile the church with the state, built hundreds of churches and monasteries, libraries, patronized poets, scientists and ordinary people. The Georgian people, like many centuries ago, idolize and glorify Queen Tamar.
Today this day is a major national holiday. The main celebrations take place in Tbilisi and Akhaltsikhe, where a monument to the crowned lady was erected.
Georgia became an independent state on March 31, 1991. It was on this day that the country's sovereignty was announced during the National Referendum. Nevertheless, Georgia celebrates the anniversary of Independence on May 26, the day when Georgia first became a free state. This happened in 1918. By that time, Georgia had been under the rule of the Russian Empire for almost a century. The new republic existed for only 3 years, after which it became part of the USSR. Thus, March 31 only confirmed historical justice, and May 26 remained the main date of liberation.
The main national holiday in Georgia is celebrated on a huge scale. According to tradition, a solemn military parade and a grandiose festive concert take place on this day. The military parade takes place along the main street of Tbilisi - Rustaveli Avenue. Military columns march in orderly steps along the main artery of the ancient city: thousands of military personnel of all types of troops. They are followed by more than 100 units of military equipment. And dozens of planes are drawing intricate patterns in the sky.
No less spectacular is another event, traditionally held on this day. This is the famous Vardobistve flower festival. These days, the famous Peace Bridge turns into a colorful rainbow of flowers.
Celebrations also take place in the capital’s Vake Park, where veterans gather. An event in memory of those who laid down their lives in the name of the country's Independence is taking place here.
Children's events and parties are held in parks, and sports matches and competitions are held in stadiums.
The crown of all festive events is a grand concert in the historical part of the city - Rica.
Flower Festival
It also has a second, no less beautiful name - “Pink Month in Tbilisi”. The festival is celebrated on the country's Independence Day. Zion Square and Shardani Street in the capital are turning into an open-air greenhouse. Here you can admire a huge number of flowers, and among this splendor there are also very rare species. Gardeners display pink, yellow, red, blue fuchsias, petunias, roses, etc. for everyone to see. In addition to flowers, at the holiday you can appreciate the beauty of decorative pine trees and Christmas trees.
Ninoba is the name in Georgian for a large church holiday dedicated to the day (June 1) of the arrival of Saint Nino in Georgia, who converted Georgians to the Christian faith.
This happened at the beginning of the 4th century. Saint Nino was from the Roman province of Cappadocia. Having converted to Christianity early, she went with her parents to Jerusalem to serve the Lord. There she learned the legend about the Lord's robe and began to pray for its acquisition. According to legend, the Mother of God, having heeded the girl’s prayers, showed her the way to the Iberian Valley, so that she would carry the teachings of Christ to new pagan lands and give her a cross made of vines.
The relics of Saint Nino are located in the Bodbe Monastery in Kakheti. On the day of her coming, crowds of pilgrims come here, and in Tbilisi a festive service is solemnly held in the Zion Cathedral. The greatest shrine is also kept here - the cross made of grapevine, with which Nino baptized Georgia. Also, every year at this time, believers organize a pilgrimage in the footsteps of St. Nino, passing along the Mtskheta - Bodbe route.
If Love Day in Georgia is celebrated only by couples in love, then Spiritual Love Day is a universal holiday, because God loves us all! And so that people remember this at least once a year (and ideally as often as possible), this bright holiday was established. It was celebrated in Georgia from time immemorial, but during the years of total atheism it was forgotten. And it was revived only in the years of independence, thanks to the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II. In Georgian, the holiday is also called Gergetoba. It is celebrated on a special scale in the town of Gergeti.
Rtveli
Any traveler, no matter what country they are in, strives to see it from the inside: national characteristics, the identity of the ethnic group, the life and customs of the common people. Only then will his journey be complete and his impressions full and vivid.
In order to understand and see Georgia, it is enough to attend only one holiday - Rtveli. This is the time of the grape harvest, a holiday for which the whole family gathers. And it doesn’t matter that the children have already grown up and fled from their father’s house. Everyone comes to Rtveli. This is the law of the family, and family for Georgians is sacred. It is truly impossible to imagine how the grape harvest takes place with a small group of three people.
Rtveli is noise, laughter, songs, dances, jokes. Here are the men returning from the vineyards in a large crowd. In their hands they hold huge wicker baskets full of ripe amber clusters. Now the sacred ceremony will begin - the grapes will be crushed in large vats. At this time, women perform magic over the hearth: there is a vat on the fire with a traditional treat - tatara. This is grape juice boiled with flour. From this sweet mass, women make the famous churchkhela - a favorite delicacy of Georgian children - nut kernels in grape caramel. Incredibly delicious! The table that Georgian housewives set on a rtveli cannot be covered even with a fabulous self-assembled tablecloth. All Georgian delicacies are collected here at once: aromatic shish kebab, juicy khinkali, spicy satsivi, tender lobio and khachapuri, and what an abundance of herbs, fresh vegetables and fruits! New wine flows like a river. The first toast is raised by the head of the family: “To the native land”!
Beautiful speeches and sonorous songs do not stop until the evening. And it’s so good in my soul that tomorrow, and the day after tomorrow, work will be in full swing, and then the household and numerous guests, who are always welcome here, will again gather at the festive table!
A big - if not great - spiritual holiday is celebrated by Georgians on October 14th. It is based on a real miracle: Georgia’s acquisition of the greatest shrine, the Robe of the Lord, thanks to which the main temple of Georgia, Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, was built.
Any Georgian knows the legend of how, back in the 1st century, two Jewish priests brought the robe of Jesus, in which he was executed, to Georgia. Everyone also knows that at the burial site of the tunic a sacred cedar grew, which later began to flow myrrh and bring people healing from all ailments. People called the cedar the Life-Giving Pillar (Svetitskhoveli).
At the beginning of the 4th century, the first king of Georgia, Mirian, decided to build a church in its place. But the barrel could not be moved. Only Saint Nino was able to pray for the Lord’s blessing. An invisible force lifted the trunk into the air and lowered it in a place where a wooden church soon grew. The pillars for the first church were carved from the same cedar.
In the 11th century, the dilapidated church was replaced by the majestic Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, which today is located in the historical city of Mtskheta - the ancient capital of Georgia. And the main celebrations of the Svetitskhovoloba holiday, of course, take place here in the ancient land of Iberia. In the Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, a solemn service led by the Patriarch of All Georgia begins early in the morning. The majestic and dazzling surroundings of the cathedral, the clergy dressed in gilded robes, the sacrament of rituals - this spectacle is as beautiful as it is sacred; believers come to it not only from all over Georgia, but also from all over the world.
After the festive service, a mass baptism of people is held at the confluence of the Aragvi and Kura rivers, which has become a traditional part of the Svetitskhovoloba holiday. On this day, believers also visit the holy places of Mtskheta: the ancient Jvari monastery and ancient temples.
Saint George the Victorious, sitting on a horse and slaying a serpent with a spear, is the most beloved and revered Christian saint in Georgia. According to ancient legend, Saint Nino herself, who converted Georgia to the Christian faith, bequeathed to Georgians to honor the memory of her beloved brother.
The history of St. George dates back to the beginning of our era, to the dawn of the formation of Christianity. George served as a commander under the Roman Emperor Diocletian and became an intercessor for all Christians who were subjected to violence and persecution. For this, he himself was subjected to terrible torture: the unfortunate man was put on the wheel, when, as the wheel rotates, it sets in motion many knives and pikes that dig into the victim’s body. The Christian Church canonized George as a great martyr and saint. And for Georgia he became a patron and protector, and the day of his wheeling - November 23 - is a major church holiday in Georgia.
On this day, bells ring in all temples. Believers pray to St. George for prosperity, peace and health. In Tbilisi, a solemn liturgy is celebrated in the Holy Trinity Cathedral. November 23 is a day off in Georgia. Georgians relax, devoting leisure time to themselves, their family, friends and loved ones. On this day, a wonderful festive table is laid, toasts flow like a river, and traditional Georgian polyphony sounds.
