Honoring Women in Armenia

In Armenia, the celebration of women is not just a symbolic, single-day event, where men offer flowers and chocolates to women. It is a month-long celebration, which carries a deep cultural meaning and spans from March 8 to April 7. Women’s Month doesn’t only honor the outstanding achievements of the female population, but also the tremendous power and resilience the Armenian women have shown throughout history. It is an acknowledgement of their enduring contributions to the nation and a period to celebrate them through various festivities and events. Women’s Month in Armenia begins with International Women’s Day on March 8, which is officially recognized as a public holiday. On this day, men show their appreciation and respect to their wives, mothers, sisters, daughters or female colleagues by offering bouquets of colourful flowers, sweets, small gifts and beautiful notes. Throughout the month, it is typical for the media to pay tribute to remarkable women by showing documentaries or hosting interviews, while several cultural institutions organize concerts, exhibitions and social events to honor highly influential female figures of the past and the present.

This special month is also the perfect opportunity to raise awareness about some ongoing social issues within the Armenian community, such as gender inequality and domestic violence. It’s a powerful reminder for men to go beyond symbolic gestures and become allies in women’s pursuit of equality. It’s time for men to demonstrate genuine support to their female counterparts, rather than remain passive observers of such injustices.

The monthly celebration finally comes to an end on April 7, when Motherhood and Beauty Day takes place. Unlike International Women’s Day, which primarily celebrates the accomplishments of Armenian women, this holiday mainly focuses on the essence of motherhood, feminine values and the nurturing spirit that characterizes women in Armenian society. This holiday is also of religious importance, as it coincides with the Feast of Annunciation in the Armenian Apostolic Church. In churches, special services are often held that praise women as life-givers and caretakers of a whole nation, while in schools, students perform plays to honor their mothers and teachers. Women’s Month in Armenia is far more than a superficial celebration of women, or a mere excuse for festivity. It is a long and meaningful celebration, dedicated to all women who defied war, genocide and displacement, and became symbols of resistance, survival and resilience. It is an acknowledgement that their once quiet contributions to the nation now speak louder than ever, and that their rights should be protected at all costs.