About Celebrations – Georgian Wine Day
October 4 was Georgian Wine Day. This new celebration was marked by an event held at the Alaverdi Monastery Complex (Georgian: ალავერდის მონასტერი) in Kakheti region, in eastern Georgia. Many archaeologists believe Georgia to be the source of the world’s first cultivated grapevines and wine production over 8,000 years ago. Alaverdi Monastery is a Georgian … Continue reading
About Celebrations – Mariamoba
August 28 is Mariamoba (Day of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin) (Georgian: მარიამობა) in Georgia. It is one of the greatest holy days and Orthodox Christians will visit a church, pray and light candles. The Assumption of the Virgin Mary was the bodily taking up of the Virgin Mary into Heaven at the end of … Continue reading
About Celebrations – Didgoroba
The Battle of Didgori (Georgian: დიდგორის ბრძოლა) was one of the most decisive battles in Georgian history. Georgian King David IV’s victory and subsequent reconquest of Tbilisi, which had been under Muslim rule for over four centuries, liberated the entire region from Muslim influence and marked the beginning of the medieval Georgian Golden Age. The event is commemorated each … Continue reading
About Celebrations – Independence Day 2014
On 26 May 1918, in the midst of the Russian Civil War, Georgia declared independence and The Democratic Republic of Georgia was created. The flag of independent Georgia (Georgian: საქართველოს სახელმწიფო დროშა), also known as the Five Cross Flag (Georgian: ხუთჯვრიანი დროშა) was adopted in January 2004. The day is a national holiday and celebrations … Continue reading
About Celebrations – Saint Andrew’s Day
May 12 is an official holiday in Georgia and marks the day that the Apostle Andrew the First-Called arrived in Georgia, in present-day Ajara region. St. Andrew was the first of the apostles of Jesus Christ. The church tradition of Georgia regards St. Andrew as the first preacher of Christianity in Georgia and as the founder … Continue reading
About Celebrations – Victory Day
Victory Day, held annually on 9 May, is a national holiday in Georgia and many former Soviet Union countries. It commemorates the formal surrender of Nazi Germany to the Soviet Union in Berlin in May 1945 and marks the end of the Great Patriotic War for the USSR, which lost around 25 million citizens in … Continue reading
About Celebrations – Dyeing Eggs Red for Orthodox Easter
On Good Friday, Orthodox Christians in Georgia dye hard boiled eggs a red color using the root of the Madder plant and onion peel. The eggs represent the blood of Christ and are placed on green wheat grass, which symbolizes new life, resurrection, and eternity. The eggs are blessed in a church and on Easter … Continue reading
About Celebrations – Bidzinaoba Celebration
The Bidzinaoba celebration (Georgian: ბიძინაობა) is held annually on 1 October in Akhmeta (Georgian: ახმეტა) in Kakheti region. The celebration honors Bidzina Cholokashvili (Georgian: ბიძინა ჩოლოყაშვილი) (died c. 1660), a Christian martyr canonized by the Georgian Orthodox Church. Cholokashvili was one of the leaders of the Bakhtrioni Uprising and was tortured and killed for refusing … Continue reading
About Celebrations – Alilo Procession
Georgia marks Christmas according to the Julian Calendar and Christmas Day is celebrated on 7 January. On Christmas Day, Orthodox Christians throughout Georgia take part in a religious procession, called “Alilo”, as part of their Christmas celebrations. Icons, crosses and banners are carried through the streets and gifts are distributed to the needy. The procession was … Continue reading
About Food – Gozinaki with Hazelnuts
Gozinaki (Georgian: გოზინაყი) is a traditional Georgian confection made of caramelized nuts fried in honey and usually eaten on New Year’s Eve and Christmas. In this recipe we show how to make gozinaki with hazelnuts. Ingredients: Half kilo of hazelnuts, 4 heaped tbs of honey and 1 tbs of sugar. Preparation: Shell the hazelnuts. Add … Continue reading
About Celebrations – Christmas Fireworks in Tbilisi
Tbilisians gathered outside the old parliament building on 25 December to watch a stunning display of fireworks celebrating Christmas 2013. Georgia About wishes everyone a very happy Christmas! Photos courtesy of Tbilisi Government. CLICK on the logo to visit GEORGIA ABOUT on Facebook and see photos and news about Georgia. Click LIKE on the page and become a friend of GEORGIA ABOUT.
About Celebrations – A Christmas Wish Come True
Two young Georgian boys who are suffering from leukaemia wrote to Tovlis Babua (Snow Grandfather – Georgian “Santa Claus”) to ask for police patrol uniforms and a police car. The Interior Minister, Alexander Chikaidze, heard about this and arranged for uniforms to be made, which he then presented to the boys. A Christmas wish come … Continue reading
About Celebrations – Saint George’s Day
St George has always been especially honored and respected as a patron saint of Georgia and there are hundreds of churches dedicated to him. Georgian Orthodox Christians celebrate Saint George’s Day, Giorgoba, (Georgian: გიორგობა) twice a year; on May 6 and on 23 November. St. George was born in the latter part of the third century … Continue reading
About Celebrations – ‘Svetitskhovloba’
On October 14, the Georgian Orthodox Church celebrated ‘Svetitskhovloba’. The celebration pays homage to Svetitskhoveli Cathedral (Georgian: სვეტიცხოველი) in the old capital of Mtskheta (Georgian: მცხეთა). The cathedral stands on the site chosen by St. Nino as the place for the first church in Georgia and its name means “Life Giving Pillar”. Situated at the … Continue reading
About Events – Tbilisoba
Tbilisoba-2013 (Georgian: თბილისობა) is being celebrated in Tbilisi this weekend (4-6 October). First held in 1979, the festival has become an annual celebration of autumn for Tbilisi residents and visitors. A huge wine-press holding 7 tons of grapes is one of the centerpieces and the Mayor of Tbilisi, Gigi Ugulava, participated in the pressing. The … Continue reading
About Events – Lamproba Celebration
Lamproba (Georgian: ლამპრობა (სვან. ლიმპჲარ, დეცეშ ლამპრობ, სუიმნიშ, სუიმნიშლამპრობ) is an old celebration that has been preserved in the Svaneti region of Georgia. Traditionally held annually on 1 February it marks the time between winter and spring and asks for good weather, fertile reproduction of animals and people and a good harvest. Birch and oak … Continue reading
