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The Grape Blessing Festival, dedicated to the blessing of the first grape harvest, will be celebrated on a grand scale in Aghavnadzor village of the Areni community in Armenia’s Vayots Dzor Province.
The Grape Blessing is an Armenian Christian tradition associated with the Feast of the Assumption of the Holy Mother of God. Grapes are traditionally brought to church and blessed by a priest, after which people take the blessed grapes home and share them. The tradition symbolizes gratitude for the harvest and God’s blessing on the year’s produce.
Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Director of the “Areni Community Development” Foundation Syuzan Margaryan said that grapes will be at the heart of the celebration, while several dozen pavilions will showcase the produce and local products of Aghavnadzor and other settlements of the Areni community.
“The festival will bring together grape growers, winemakers, local producers, artisans, as well as tourists who love wine and delicious food. The festival will take place on August 16, starting at 4:00 p.m., with the blessing of the first grape harvest,” Syuzan Margaryan said.
Mariam Sahakyan, a resident of Aghavnadzor who is engaged in dried-fruit production, said that this is the third year she has participated in the Grape Blessing Festival and that residents of the village look forward to it and prepare for it every year.
“Local residents are eagerly awaiting the festival and preparing for it. They do everything possible to present as many diverse and delicious dishes as possible, all beautifully packaged. Each neighborhood decides which traditional dish to prepare. For example, I would highlight vegetable shorva, dolma, rosehip soup, and a dish made from watermelon and melon seeds,” Mariam Sahakyan said, emphasizing that, alongside the dishes, they also highlight the community’s traditions.
Armine Vardanyan, procurement coordinator at the Areni Municipality, said that they have initiated the production of films to promote the community. Filming has already taken place in the settlement of Areni, while work is currently underway in Aghavnadzor and Rind.
“In the videos, we highlight the cultural values, archaeological sites, and monuments of the settlements, while also making sure not to overlook national games and local traditions. There are even places that we, as residents of the Areni community, were not aware of. Now, we are talking both about well-known sites and making new discoveries, and by promoting them, we are trying to direct tourists’ interest toward these areas,” Armine Vardanyan said.
Syuzan Margaryan, Director of the “Areni Community Development” Foundation, noted that the municipality has adopted a policy of balanced and sustainable development of its settlements. In this context, festivals and other such events are of great importance for the development of the community.
“The economic results are visible: local residents not only sell their produce and goods, but also find partners. In addition, the local hospitality and restaurant sectors are developing. All of this is facilitated by the large number of visitors attending festivals held in the Areni community. Last year alone, 40,000 visits were recorded as part of the Areni Wine Festival,” she said.