Feb 5

Mihr, Festival of

The Church of Armenia kept a number of pagan ceremonies alive by investing them with Christian significance. This seems to be the case with the Festival of Mihr, the god of fire. This pagan spring festival was originally observed by lighting fires in Mihr's honor in the marketplace, and by lighting a lantern that burned throughout the year in the temple. When Christianity was introduced in Armenia early in the third century, fires were lit on this day in the church courtyards, and people danced around them or jumped through the flames.

The Armenian name for the month of February, Mihragan, is a reflection of the extent to which this ancient god and his festival have survived.