Pre-Christmas Holidays in Armenia
Armenia’s pre-Christmas holidays were once a defined three-day period in the national holiday law: January 3, 4 and 5, between New Year and the January 6 Feast of the Holy Nativity and Theophany. The current law no longer lists those three dates as non-working days, although the holiday remains in some calendars.[1][2]
A former part of the winter holiday schedule
An earlier version of Armenia’s Law on Holidays and Commemoration Days designated December 31 through January 2 for New Year, January 3 through 5 as pre-Christmas holidays, and January 6 for Holy Christmas and Theophany. It classified each period as non-working days. The pre-Christmas designation was added in a 2009 amendment and remained in the law until the schedule changed in 2021.[1][2]
In 2017, the government announced a proposed change to remove January 3, 4 and 5 as pre-Christmas days, with an intended effective date of January 1, 2018. The current official text of the law instead shows the active schedule as December 31 through January 2 for New Year and January 6 for Christmas and Theophany; it does not designate January 3–5 as non-working holidays.[2][3]
Its place before Christmas
The name described where these dates fell in Armenia’s winter calendar, before the Armenian Apostolic Church’s January 6 feast of the Holy Nativity and Theophany. The church’s official account of the feast describes a Divine Liturgy at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin and a Ceremony of the Blessing of Water after the service.[4]
The church’s official account describes observances for the January 6 feast, including a Divine Liturgy and a Ceremony of the Blessing of Water after the service. January 3–5 formerly formed part of the legal holiday schedule.[1][4]
What to expect now
Because the active holiday law does not list January 3–5 as non-working days, the former designation alone does not mean public offices, banks, shops or transport services close on those dates. Check each provider’s published hours when planning an appointment or trip.[2]
The law says the government may move working days in connection with holidays or other significant events. It does not specify a substitute day for the former pre-Christmas holidays. Check current official notices for any separately announced workday changes.[2]
Frequently asked questions
When were Armenia’s pre-Christmas holidays?
The former law designated January 3, 4 and 5 as pre-Christmas holidays, between the New Year period and January 6 Christmas and Theophany.[1]
Are January 3–5 currently non-working public holidays?
The current official holiday law does not list January 3–5 as non-working days. Some calendars may retain the former designation, so consult the current legal schedule when deciding whether to expect a day off.[2]
What does “pre-Christmas” refer to in Armenia?
Will offices, shops or transport be closed?
The former holiday name does not establish current closures. Since January 3–5 are not listed as non-working holidays in the current law, confirm hours with the individual office, business or transport provider.[2]
Are substitute days provided if January 3–5 fall on a weekend?
The current law does not designate January 3–5 as holidays or provide substitute days for them. It permits the government to move working days in connection with holidays or significant events.[2]
Sources and references
Sources used for Pre-Christmas holidays in Armenia:
- ՀՀ ՕՐԵՆՔԸ ՀՀ ՏՈՆԵՐԻ ԵՎ ՀԻՇԱՏԱԿԻ ՕՐԵՐԻ ՄԱՍԻՆ- ARLIS Armenian Legal Information System
- ՀՀ ՕՐԵՆՔԸ ՀՀ ՏՈՆԵՐԻ ԵՎ ՀԻՇԱՏԱԿԻ ՕՐԵՐԻ ՄԱՍԻՆ- ARLIS Armenian Legal Information System
- Karen Karapetyan: “We need to take steps to develop a new ambitious anticorruption strategy”- Government of the Republic of Armenia
- Patriarchal Divine Liturgy on the Occasion of the Feast of the Holy Nativity and Theophany- Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin