Holidays are an integral part of the culture and history of any country. In Georgia, a country with a rich history and culture, there is no shortage of holidays and festivals. We can safely say that every day in Georgia is a holiday: mountains and sun, hospitable people, delicious cuisine and, of course, a sea of ​​wine, without which no holiday can do!

Holidays in Georgia: St. George’s Day – November 23

St. George’s Day, in Georgian Giorgoba, is celebrated on November 23 of each year, in memory of the torture of the Great Martyr George the Victorious during the reign of Emperor Diocletian in 303 BC. As one of the patrons of Georgia, St. George is the most revered in Georgia. In accordance with local belief, he was a relative of St. Nino, who converted Georgia to Christianity. She bequeathed to her descendants from now on to honor the memory of the great martyr, who stood up for all Christians and suffered a terrible death for this. Since then, many churches have been built in Georgia that bear the name of St. George. In the Middle Ages, in different parts of Georgia, 365 chapels were built in the name of St. George – exactly the same number of days in a year.

This holiday is not only one of the important Christian religious holidays in Georgia, but is also equated to the state ones, which means that the whole country is resting. November 23 is a non-working day in Georgia. Solemn services are held in all the churches of the country, people celebrate this holiday with their families, set tables, where wine and toast flow like water. But most of all, people with the name George are lucky: they receive most of the attention and gifts in honor of their name day.

Saint George is venerated among Catholics, Orthodox and Eastern Orthodox churches. According to the Eastern Orthodox tradition, he is depicted as part of an iconographic emblem as a rider on a horse, killing a dragon or a snake. In Georgia, the image of St. George is imprinted on the state emblem. The same motif is widespread in religious paintings, icons, souvenirs and trinkets that can be found in almost every Georgian church.

Holidays in Georgia: Independence Day of Georgia – May 26

Georgia celebrates Independence Day on May 26 every year. The date is associated with the establishment of the First Georgian Democratic Republic in 1918. In the early 19th century, Georgia became part of the vast Russian Empire. After Revolution of 1917, Georgia became an independent country and declared itself a Democratic Republic on May 26, 1918. In 1921, Georgia was defeated after the invasion of the Soviet army and became part of the Soviet Socialist Republic.
Georgia gained independence after the collapse of the USSR for the second time on April 9, 1991. April 9 is of great importance for the country – this is the day of national unity, when the entire Georgian people honors the memory of the fallen soldiers who gave their lives for the freedom and independence of the country.
Independence Day is celebrated all over the country with military parades, fireworks, concerts, fairs and official ceremonies.

April 9 and May 26 are non-working days in Georgia.

Holidays in Georgia: Mtskhetoba-Svetitskhovloba – October 14

The Georgian Orthodox Church celebrates the feast of Mtskhetoba-Svetitskhovloba, the ancient capital of Georgia and its legendary cathedral, on October 14. The main character of the holiday is the great Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, built in the 4th century during the reign of King Mirian III, the first Christian ruler of Georgia, who converted to Christianity thanks to St. Nino, who preached the teachings of Christ. The place for the construction of the cathedral was not chosen by chance. According to legend, it was on Mount Mtskheta, at the burial place of the holy tunic in which Jesus was executed, that the sacred cedar grew, it streamed myrrh and thus healed people from diseases. The people called the cedar “Life-giving pillar”, or Svetitskhoveli. King Mirian III decided to build the first Georgian church on the site of the cedar, which got its name Svetitskhoveli.

Every year, a solemn service is held in the cathedral with the participation of the Patriarch of All Georgia. After богослужения проходит массовый обряд крещения людей на месте слияния Куры (Мтквари) и Арагви.

People from all over Georgia come to Mtskhetoba. It is a great luck for tourists to get to this holiday, since Mtskheta – the ancient capital of Georgia – turns into one big fun holiday, where folk dances and dances, performances, competitions replace each other.

Holidays in Georgia: New Year and Christmas – December 31 – January 7

New Year is the most favorite secular holiday in Georgia, which is celebrated with fun and scope inherent only to Georgians. Georgians are one of the most hospitable peoples in the world, and it is easy to see this: on New Year’s Eve, every a self-respecting owner of the house sets the table, which is literally bursting with various traditional dishes and dishes! Satsivi, khachapuri, lobio, roast pig, homemade cheeses, marinades, gozinaki (nuts in honey) and churchkhella are sure to be on the Georgian New Year’s table. There is a sign that the more sweets there are on the table, the more successful the coming year will be.

In Georgia, there are a number of symbols and beliefs associated with the New Year. All over the world it is customary to decorate a fir tree as a symbol of the New Year. Georgia is also no exception: Tbilisi is brightly decorated with New Year’s lights, Christmas trees, figures of angels, the Star of Bethlehem, palm branches that symbolize peace. However, in Georgia, from time immemorial, there has been an interesting tradition of carving “chichilaki” from walnut branches. Chichilaki are traditionally decorated with dried fruits, nuts and sweets, and then, at the end of the holidays on January 19, they are burned to drive away all the hardships and problems that have accumulated over the year along with ashes and smoke.

In Georgian families, another tradition is widespread, associated with the very first guest – “mekvele”, who is the first to cross the threshold of the Georgian hearth. It is believed that the first guest should be a kind and healthy person, preferably from among close friends or relatives, and the year will be full of goodness and prosperity. Today, “mekvele” is also associated with Santa Claus, who brings gifts to children!
New Year in Georgia is celebrated from December 31 to January 2.

The Georgian Orthodox Church celebrates Christmas on January 7, as is customary, for example, in Russia or Armenia. This is a very important and solemn holiday for the country, since Christianity for Georgia is not just a religion, but also the main component of culture and history. On the day of the Nativity of the Lord, solemn services are held in all the churches of the country, people take to the streets and sing church songs together with the priests. These massive walks, called “Alilo”, play a central role in the unique celebration of Christmas in Georgia. Dressed as shepherds, soldiers, famous religious figures, or in traditional Georgian clothes, the participants of the procession congratulate each other and collect money for charitable purposes.

List of public holidays and days off in Georgia for 2017:

December 31 – January 2 – New Year
January 19 – Epiphany

March 3 – Mother’s Day

March 8 – International Women’s Day

April 9 – National Unity Day

April 16 – Orthodox Easter

May 9 – Victory Day

May 12 – St. Andrew’s Day

May 26 – Independence Day

August 28 – Day of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

14 October – Svetitskhovloba

November 23 – St. George’s Day