«FEAST OF SANDARAMETANK», «DAY OF REMEMBRANCE OF THE MAGI», «FEAST OF THE WISE PATRIARCHS»…
The history and culture of the past of each nation — the collective memory, is a most important factor for the education and upbringing of generations.
The life and deeds of the «Brave, wise and world-conquering Ancestors» have from age to age inspired their descendants and driven them to ever new victories…
The teaching passed down from the Ancestors from generation to generation, the traditions formed, the feasts and rites are at the basis of national thinking; it is they that form the nation’s perception of the world and its value system…
It is that oral and written heritage, storing history and wisdom, that builds the individual and the whole nation, arms them with joy of life, with the ability to overcome the difficulties of life…
The traditions coming from immemorial times, the most ancient rites have withstood the oblivion imposed by the centuries and endured in Armenian folklore, in music, in dances and games — in spite of the changes undergone.
Still until the beginning of the 20th century from various parts of the Armenian Highland and from adjacent regions pilgrims set out towards the Land of Taron — the Armenians’ «Town of the Seven Altars», to the famous Dits-towns on the bank of the sacred river — the Aratsani — Bagavan, Ashtishat — with the New Fruited harvest brought with them — to take part in festivities of many days full of merriment.
In distant times, after the jubilant celebrations of the Harvest, of the gathering of the harvest, after the Blessing of the Grapes and the Blessing of the Bread came the glorification of Mother Earth — the feast of Sandaramet.
The creative force of Nature and the Life-giving Light, the fruitful fertility of Mother Earth and the glorification of the wise Ancestors are continued today too by the heirs of the Haykazuns — faithful to the Haykian Sacred teaching.
According to the explanation of Kurm Harut Arakelyan, «On the day Sim of the month Sahmi (September 14), according to the Haykian Sacred Calendar, is «Ton Sandarametank»:
The Haykian Sacred Calendar, beside its eight principal feasts — has also nine Creation feasts in number, which are called «BAGAR feasts»:
Among the Bagar feasts is the feast of Sandaramet, which is the feast symbolizing the Creation of the Earth.
The feast is performed with great fireworks; around the fire women and girls hold a round dance; they symbolize the Goddess Sandaramet, patroness of the Creation of the Earth.
«Ton Sandarametank» is also one of the feasts honouring women, in which everywhere Woman — the source and root of our life — is honoured and extolled»…
About the meaning of the said and other feasts and rites in more detail — with the interpretations of the Kurms of the Haykian Brotherhood — Kurm Harut Arakelyan and Kurm Mihr Haykazuni — later (also, as in recent years, with special courses organized for separate groups)…
