Fun and festivities in Georgia - celebrations, festivals and cultural events

The culture of Georgia was born as a result of the fusion of European and Middle Eastern traditions. Traditional holidays and cheerful festivals offer visitors of the country a unique opportunity to enjoy its unique atmosphere and get the brightest positive impressions. Georgians cherish their religious holidays. The main ones are Christmas, Easter, Epiphany, Mariamoba or the Assumption of the Virgin. One of the greatest Georgian festivities is Svetitskhovloba (the day of the city of Mtskheta, the ancient capital of Georgia). It is celebrated in mid-October and marks the legendary acquisition of a great shrine, the chiton in which Jesus Christ was crucified. During the holiday, solemn services are held in the temples and baptisms are conducted at the banks of the Aragvi and Kura rivers for anyone desiring.

On the first day of June, tribute is paid to the memory of the Georgian educator, Saint Nino who converted the local population into the Christian faith at the beginning of the 4th century. The relics of the saint are buried in Kakheti, where Christian pilgrims from different countries gather. A holy service is held in the Tbilisi Cathedral of Sioni. In mid-May, the day of another Georgian saint, Queen Tamara, is celebrated. During her time, she united the scattered tribes of the mountaineers, reconciled the church with the state, and established many religious and educational institutions. At the end of November, another important national holiday for Georgians is marked. It is Saint George’s day. He served as a military commander for the emperor of the Roman Empire and at the cost of his life, defended Christians subjected to persecution. On this day, people usually have dinner within family circles.

Georgian traditions of the New Year celebration are interesting. “Chichilaki” is used in Georgia as an equivalent of the New Year tree. It is a long stick twisted with lush white shavings and decorated with dried fruits and sweets. In the end, it is burnt. On the evening of New Year’s Eve, Georgian housewives bake round bread made of wheat flour which is suspended on a vine to attract a rich harvest. The first person to enter the house after the New Year is called “mevkle”. Festive merriments last till the night of January 2nd, which is called “bebodis dge” (“day of happiness”). Copyright www.orangesmile.com

One of the most authentic Georgian holidays is the ancient pagan Chiakoconoba. With the onset of darkness in the cities and villages, high bonfires are kindled. When most of the firewood burns, the bonfire is then jumped over several times in order to get protection from evil spirits and purify a person from their harmful influence. Every year in October, Tbilisi celebrates City Day – Tbilisoba. Guests from different regions of the country take part in fairs, selling farm products and tasting wine. Handmade souvenirs and handicrafts are sold at the fairgrounds. Concerts featuring famous performers are organized on the streets of the capital.

The central event of autumn in Georgia is the festival of harvesting of grapes “Rtveli”. Particularly colorful celebrations take place in Kakheti, the wine-growing center of the country. During the festival, all family members gather to participate in the traditional ritual. Ripe bunches of grapes are collected, placed in baskets, and subsequently transferred into “Kvevri”, vessels made of clay. Only then does the feast begin. The festive table overflows with shish kebab, khinkali, satsivi, lobio, khachapuri, cheeses, fresh bread, fruits and aromatic wine. Rtveli takes place in an atmosphere of fun, music and dancing. Solemn toasts (the main of which is “for their native land”) do not cease until late at night.

The annual folklore festival “Art-genie” is held in different regions of the country since the beginning of the 21st century. Being the largest ethnographic event in modern Georgia, it revives the traditional folk culture, evoking the interest of the younger generations, thereby popularizing ancient Georgian music and presenting newly discovered folklore works. You can enjoy traditional Georgian singing, fervent national dances, get acquainted with local martial arts, take part in various workshops and purchase handicrafts as a souvenir all in the fabulous atmosphere of the festival. The nine-day extravaganza which takes place every year in different locations all over the country ends with a grandiose gala concert in the ethnographic museum of Tbilisi.