Name: SUNDAY SCHOOL VARDAVAR WATER FESTIVAL
Start: 2024-07-06T12:00:00-05:00
End: 2024-07-06T16:00:00-05:00
Location: Hurricane Harbor Waterpark

HOLY VIRGIN MARY & SHOGHAGAT ARMENIAN CHURCH
SUNDAY SCHOOL
VARDAVAR WATER FESTIVAL
At Hurricane Harbor at Six Flags St. Louis
Saturday, July 6, 2024, 12:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Please RSVP by June 29, 2024, to Kristina at (314) 698-0173
All ages are welcome but please be prepared to get wet!
Water-friendly clothing and swim shoes are encouraged.
Please bring sunscreen, towels and dry clothes.
What is Vardavar?
Vardavar (Վարդավառ) is the name of a major feast from the pagan era, which was the day of adorning with roses. "Vard" (վարդ) means roses and "var" (վառ) means aflame. Vardavar was either the same as the feast of the New Year or some other feasts that were retained by changing their purpose and commemoration but retaining their name in Christianized Armenia, as mentioned in relation to Zatik (Զատիկ) / Easter and Tzaghgazard (Ծաղկազարդ) / Palm Sunday.
The old feast of Vardavar was transformed into the feast of the Transfiguration. St. Grigor Tatevatsin explains the name of the holiday "Vardavar" by comparing Jesus to a rose. Just as a rose is hidden in its shell until it opens and when it opens it is visible to all, so Jesus before the transfiguration carried the divine essence in Himself and when transfigured He revealed His Divinity.
It is the custom to be adorned with roses during the old Vardavar, to make doves fly, and to sprinkle water on one another, which is now practiced during the feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord Jesus Christ. Today, according to the Christian understanding, sprinkling water on each other means purification, enlightenment, and change for the better.
The ancient festival was dedicated to the worship of Astghik, the goddess of water, beauty, love, and fertility. According to a legend, goddess Astghik spread love through the Armenian land by sprinkling rosy water.
Did you know that Astghik became the first Disney character of Armenian heritage in March 2024?
Please see the video below of her singing about Vardavar.
Mickey Mouse Funhouse - "Vardavar!" - Should Astghik be the next Disney Princess? (