Day of National Identity or Navasard is celebrated in Armenia today

August 11 in Armenia is marked as the Day of National Identity or Navasard.
Navasard symbolized the first month of the year (“nava” – “new”, “sard” – “year”) in the Ancient Armenian calendar. The month consisted of 30 days and ended on September 9.

It was one of the most favorite holidays of ancient Armenians, symbolizing a beginning of a new year and a new life. The holiday was accompanied by folk festivals and games for a whole week.

Armenians from different regions served different dishes due to the weather. Round wheat, which grew only in Armenia, was the most important part of these dishes. Armenians put bread made from this wheat so that pagan gods would make the new year fertile. Perhaps, one of the ancient Armenian sayings “you cannot borrow bread in Navasard” comes from this tradition.

On August 11, 2492 B.C., according to the ancient Armenian chronicles, the ancestor of all Armenians, Hayk, defeated Bel, opening the opportunity for his descendants to freely exist and prosper.
The legend says that Hayk the Archer also known as Hayk Nahapet defeated troops of the Assyrian tyrant Bel in the battle of Dyutsaznamart and laid the foundation for the future Armenian state.

Since 2008, Navasard has been celebrated at the state level. In 2009, the Parliament decided to establish an official holiday called Day of National Identity which is celebrated on the day of the glorious victory of Hayk, the founder of the Armenian nation.