
Barekendan is an Armenian folk festival that is movable, as it is associated with the celebration of Holy Resurrection. Its duration is two weeks, with the second week being called Bun Barekendan. The festival is characterized by communal singing and dancing, feasts, games, and amusements, mask-wearing performances, the overturning of traditional societal norms, diverse and hearty food, and more. Being movable, the celebration took place in February or early March and was linked to the arrival of spring. The amusements had the purpose of joyfully greeting the awakening nature, and people wished each other a good life. The performances had a carnival-like nature, with masks, and the roles were imitations of real-life people and events. The presentations were grouped around themes of daily life, history, ethnoculture, love, and value systems.
Until the early 20th century, Barekendan was one of the most beloved holidays among Armenians, accompanied by masquerades, games, and dances. In the early 20th century, Barekendan was interrupted, but it shared many similarities with the masquerade traditions of European and Slavic peoples.
As an intangible cultural heritage, this celebration can have a positive influence on relationships within communities, different groups in society, and individuals, fostering friendship, closeness, and respect. At the same time, it promotes the development of festivals, bringing Armenian culture closer to its historically and civilizationally native culture and contributing to the formation of public leisure.