Christmas (Surb Tsnund)

Christmas, known as Surb Tsnund in Armenian, is a significant religious and cultural holiday in Armenia, celebrated on January 6th. This date combines the celebration of both the birth and the baptism of Jesus Christ, following the ancient tradition of the early Christian church.

Historical Background

The Armenian Apostolic Church, one of the oldest Christian communities in the world, has preserved the tradition of celebrating Christmas on January 6th. This practice dates back to the early centuries of Christianity when all Christian churches celebrated Christ's birth and baptism together. Over time, Western Christianity adopted December 25th as the date for Christmas, but the Armenian Church maintained the original date.

Religious Observances

Surb Tsnund is primarily a religious holiday, deeply rooted in Christian liturgy and practices:

Theophany (Epiphany)