For ages, New Year in Armenia is celebrated on the 21st of March. New Year in Armenia also marks the beginning of spring and the birthday of the mythical God Vahangn. Armenian New Year is characterized by huge feasts, merriment and also to celebrate the sweet season of spring.
The Armenian Apostolic Church still uses the old Julian Calendar, Christmas is celebrated on January 6th. The Christmas holiday season starts on New Year's Eve (December 31st) and continues until the old Julian calendar's New Year's Eve on January 13th.
The social and economic upheavals that followed the earthquake of 1988 combined with the political collapse of the Soviet Union to create a catastrophic public health situation in Armenia.