A modified ancient Armenian calendar incorporating Armenian, Kemetic, and Wiccan Holidays
Years
The Armenian year is calculated from the date of the original founding of Armenia, August 11, 2492 BCE. The Gregorian year 2007-2008 correlates with the year 4500 on the calendar. An easy way to convert the current year from Gregorian to Armenian is with the equation: 4,500 + (current year - 2007). So, however many years ago 2007 was plus 4;500. The coming year as of this post will be 4516.
Months
The Months of the Armenian calendar are the chief ones observed by this calendar. The Kemetic months are noted, however, and each dedicated to a different Netjeru (𓊹 , Egyptian Deity; Armenian dieties are called Astvadz, Astvadzner in plural). There are twelve months of thirty days, and extra five days at the end of the year (six on a leap year, which in AKNP coincides with the Gregorian Leap Year for simplicity). To properly convert dates to the Gregorian calendar on a leap year, move everything a day back from February 29 to August 9, with August 10 being the “leap day”, after which the calendar will sync up again.
Each day of the month has a different name, rather than a number:
| 1. Areg | 16. Mani |
| 2. Hrand | 17. Asak |
| 3. Aram | 18. Masis |
| 4. Margar | 19. Anahit |
| 5. Ahranq | 20. Aragats |
| 6. Madegh | 21. Grgor |
| 7. Astghik | 22. Kordouiq |
| 8. Mihr | 23. Tsmak |
| 9. Dzopaber | 24. Lousnak |
| 10. Mourts | 25. Tsron |
| 11. Yerezkan | 26. Npat |
| 12. Ani | 27. Vahagn |
| 13. Parkhar | 28. Sein |
| 14. Vanat | 29. Varag |
| 15. Aramazd | 30. Gisheravar |
In Armenian letters:
| 1. Արեգ | 16. Մանի |
| 2. Հրանդ | 17. Ասակ |
| 3. Արամ | 18. Մասիս |
| 4. Մարգար | 19. Անահիտ |
| 5. Ահրանք | 20. Արագած |
| 6. Մադեղ | 21. Գրգոռ |
| 7. Աստղիկ | 22. Կորդուիք |
| 8. Միհր | 23. Ծմակ |
| 9. Ձոպաբեր | 24. Լուսնակ |
| 10. Մուրց | 25. Ցրօն |
| 11. Երեզկան | 26. Նպատ |
| 12. Անի | 27. Վահագն |
| 13. Պարխար | 28. Սէին |
| 14. Վանատ | 29. Վարագ |
| 15. Արամազդ | 30. Գիշերավար |
Կյանքի Ռիտմ; The Rhythm of Life
“History does not repeat itself, but it does rhyme.” - Theodor Reik.
The rhythm of life (Gyanki Rritm) refers to repetitive cycles in life. Time is a coil, not a straight line with a beginning and end. The present is a culmination of the past. One can look at the present as the past happening all at once. The overlapping coils of time create cycles of four and ten years, doubling as eight, twenty, etc. During this cycle, life and world events will repeat themselves in some way, as a “rhyme”, not always a direct repitition. Two similar events four to ten years apart might not always sync up to the exact date, but may appear within a few months of doing so. This is a pattern I have noticed since childhood. Its most obvious appearance is during leap years, where every four years we once again have events such as the Olympics and presidential elections in the US, although these events are deliberate, and the rhythm of life also covers non-deliberate events over which we have little to no control. Noticing this pattern helps one learn from past mistakes, and at the beginning of the year, anticipate whether or not it will be a difficult year. It will not always manifest as expected. The events cannot be accurately predicted, but forecasted, like a weather report. (Leap years in particular have been increasingly difficult years lately, as forewarning.)
The ancient Armenian calendar, upon which most of this is based. Although this particular calendar starts on the Birth of Vahagn, Spring Equinox, while I follow the Navasardian calendar which begins August 11th.
Holidays of the Armeno-Kemetic Calendar
Armenian Dates/Gregorian Dates
You know what most calendars are missing? Holidays where you sit around and contemplate your own mortality. So I made my own. Because I know the rest of society isn’t going to follow most of these holidays, most of them are days to prompt private reflection and make offerings to the Gods. Some holidays are political in nature, but I focus on the spiritual aspects of them. I also include Wiccan holidays on my calendar, not because I’m strongly Wiccan (my practice might fall under some form of Eclectic Wicca, but I’m not trying to follow traditional Gardnerian Wicca), but just because I like their holidays, especially Samhain and Yule, and the idea of the Wheel of the Year. The Gods of Armeno-Kemeticism are the Netjeru 𓊹𓊹𓊹 from Kemet, and the Astvadzner Աստվաձներ of Armenia/Urartu (Biainilli). I have used the Kemetic names of the Netjeru rather than their better-known Greek names. Anpu=Anubis; Asar=Osiris; Aset=Isis; Djehuti=Thoth; Heru=Horus; Het-Heru=Hathor; Nebet-Het=Nephthys; Sutekh=Set(h).
Հրոթից Նպատ/August 5 ~ Wep Ronpet (𓄎, Wp-rnpt) : Kemetic New Year, coincides with the rise of Sothis (Sirius), and in Kemet before the Aswan dam was built, the flood of the Nile. This date varies depending on one’s latitude; in Kemet it’s generally agreed to be July 17, August 5 is the date in Aisland (colonial name: Brevard County, Florida, formerly home to the Ais people), and it happens to sync up with the Armenian calendar quite well. The month of Wep Ronpet is sacred to Ra, who in Armeno-Kemeticism can be merged with fellow Sun Deity Aramazd (Ar in earlier Armenian beliefs) to become Ar-Ra.
Ավելյաց/August 6 -10 ~ Avelyats; in Kemeticism, the extra days were won by Djehuty (Thoth) in a gamble with fellow Moon God Khonsu over a game of Senet. Ra had forbid Nut from giving birth on any day of the year, but this provided her a loophole, so she birthed her five children, one on each day. Traditionally observed before Wep Ronpet, my practice instead observes these birthdays before Navasard. Playing a board game (or a strategy RPG) is a good way to celebrate these days.
Ավելյաց Ասար Օր/August 6 ~ Asar Or, Birthday of Osiris 𓁹𓊨
Ավելյաց Ասետ Օր/August 7 ~ Aset Or, Birthday of Isis 𓊨𓏏𓁥
Ավելյաց Նեբետ-Հետ Օր/August 8 ~ Sutekh Or, Birthday of Set 𓇓𓍢𓏏𓐍𓃩𓀭
Ավելյաց Հերու Օր/August 9 ~ Nebet-Het Or, Birthday of Nephthys 𓉠𓏏𓆇
Ավելյաց Սուտեխ Օր/August 10 ~ Heru Or, Birthday of Horus the Elder 𓅃 (in the version of Kemeticism I follow, Heru the Elder was fused with Heru the Younger by Aset soon after He was born, in order to make Him strong enough to challenge Sutekh).
(On leap years, each corresponding Gregorian date is moved back one, and this, the Leap Day, becomes the Birthday of Wepwawet, Opener of the Way and Son of Anpu.)
Նավասարդ/Navasard
Նավասարդ Արեգ/August 11 ~ Navasard, Armenian New Year; This is the anniversary of the date that the warrior King Hayk led his people out of Mesopotamia and defeated the tyrannical titan King Bel, who pursued him to Lake Van. He defeated him with a single well-aimed arrow. The date coincides with the reappearance of Hayk’s constellation in the night sky (Orion/Asar/𓁹𓊨). This date is also sacred to Anahit, Mother of Armenians. In the ancient days there would be sports competitions, and it doubled as a harvest holiday. Wheat and grapes were the key foods this time of year. The Christians in Armenia appropriated aspects of the holiday for the Blessing of the Grapes.
Նավասարդ Միհր/August 16 ~ Kemetic month of Tekhi (𓏏𓐍𓏭 ) begins. Netjeru of the Month is Djehuti.
Նավասարդ Մուրց/August 21 ~ Birthday of Ozma, Princess of the Fae and Queen of Oz. A day to celebrate the Land of Oz; to read the histories of Oz, to tell new stories and create new art about Oz.
Նավասարդ Երեզկան/August 22 ~ The Feast of Wepwawet (𓄋𓈐𓃧)
Նավասարդ Մասիս/August 29 ~ Birthday of Het-Heru (Hathor) 𓉡; celebrate with music, dance, alcohol and/or love-making.
Նավասարդ Արամազդ/September 1 ~ Գիտելիգի Օր, Knowledge Day. Learn something, make offerings to Djehuti 𓅝 𓁟 and Tir.
Նավասարդ Մանի/September 2 ~ Feast of Asar 𓁹𓊨; Արցախի Անկախության Օր, Artsakh Independence Day
Նավասարդ Անահիտ/September 5 ~ Հացօրհնեք, Feast of Anahit (First day of Anahit of the Year)
Հոռի/Horri
Հոռի Սրեգ/September 10 ~ Month of Hori begins.
Հոռի Սրանք/September 14 ~ Հիշարակ Մեղացոց, Ode to Tir, Day of Remembering the Dead
Հոռի Միհր/September 18 ~ Kemetic Month of Menkhet (𓏠𓈖𓐍𓏏, Mnḫt) begins. Netjeret of the month is Tefnut 𓏏 𓆑𓈖 𓏏𓆘.
Հոռի Երազկան/September 21 ~ Հայաստանի Անկախության Օր, Armenian Independence Day; Mabon (Autumn Equinox)
Հոռի Գրգոռ/October 1 ~ Feast of Min 𓋊𓊾𓁤
Հոռի Լուսնակ/October 4 ~ Festival of Het-Heru. 𓉡
Հոռի Վահագն/October 7 ~ Feast of Ma’at 𓆄 . Focus on order and balance.
Սահմի/Sahmi
Սահմի Արեգ/October 10 ~ Month of Sahmi (Samhain) Begins
Սահմի Հրանդ/October 11 ~ Indigenous People’s Day; a day of remembrance of the genocide of the native people of Turtle Island and other victims of colonialism. (Can be repeated on Thanksgiving.)
Սահմի Աստղիկ/October 17 ~ Kemetic month of Het-Heru (𓉡) Begins. Netjeru of the month is Het-Heru.
Սահմի Ձոպաբեր/October 19 ~ Feast of Bast 𓎯𓏏𓏏𓁐 (Bast Goes Forth, Lady of the Life of the Two Lands).
Սահմի Գրգոռ/October 31 ~ Samhain (Halloween); Day of Remembrance of the Dead, of Heka (magick) and of Spellwork, when the veil is thinnest between the physical and astral realms.
Տրե/Tre
Տրե Արեգ/November 9 ~ Month of Tre Begins; the Astvadz of the month is Tir.
Տրե Արամ/November 11 ~ Feast of Sutekh 𓇓𓍢𓏏𓐍𓃩𓀭; make offerings and pray for His protection as the nights lengthen and the Chaos Serpent strengthens against Ra 𓂋 𓂝𓇳𓀭.
Տրե Միհր/November 16 ~ Kemetic month of Khiac ( 𓂓𓁷𓂓 ) begins; Netjeru of the month is Sekhmet 𓌂𓐍𓅓𓏏𓁐.
Տրե Աստղիկ/November 28 ~ Feast of Het-Heru/Sekhmet. Offerings of wine and reflections on the duality of human nature.
Քաղոց/Kaghots
Քաղոց Արեգ/December 9 ~ Month of Kaghots Begins
Քաղոց Մատեղ/December 14 ~ Feast of Sia 𓋷𓄿𓀭 and Hu 𓎛𓅱𓀭, day to ponder perception, reality and existence. To question the world around you.
Քաղոց Միհր/December 16 ~ Kemetic month of Swelling of the Emmer (𓈙𓆑 𓇣𓏏) begins, Emmer for short; Netjeru of the month is Sutekh, in my practice, who guides His followers through the darkness and chaos during the darkest time of the year.
Քաղոց Մուրց/December 18 ~ Feast of Anpu 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓁢; reflections on mortality.
Քաղոց Պարխար/December 21 ~ Գիշերավարի Օր, Night Watcher’s Day, Winter Solstice; the Ten Days of Yule Begin, Celebration of Darkness at its Zenith
Քաղոց Վանատ/December 22 ~ Արևագալի, Birth of Mihr, heralding the return of Light; Ra and Sutekh prevail against the Chaos Serpent
Քաղոց Ասակ/December 25 - The Establishment of the Celestial Cow, aka “Moomas”. A modern Kemetic answer to Christmas based on an obscure ancient Egyptian holiday that was not very widely observed in ancient times, the story of Moomas is that after Ra sent Sekhmet to destroy humanity, only to relent and stop her rampage by getting her drunk on red wine, Sekhmet transformed back into Het-Heru, the loving Cow Goddess. Ra decided he needed to spend time away from Earth and gain some perspective, so Het-Heru lifted him into the heavens, leaving Osiris to rule in his stead, and commissioning Djehuti to develop hieroglyphs for the mortals. Then Wepwawet and Anpu loaded a chariot drawn by golden jackals with gifts to give to all the Kemetic boys and girls in the world who live according to Ma’at. That part was added in modern times, taking place the night before on All Jackal’s Eve.
Քաղոց Կորդուիք/December 31 ~ Yule ends
Քաղոց Սէին/ January 5 ~ Feast of Neith 𓈖𓏏𓋋𓀭
Արաց/Arats
Արաց Արեգ/January 8 ~ Month of Arats Begins
Արաց Միհր/January 15 ~ Kemetic Month of Great Fire (𓂋𓎡𓄑𓊮 𓏴𓂋 , Rkḥ-wr) Begins; Rekh-wer if you will. Neteru of the month is Heru. 𓅃
Արաց Մուրց - Արամազդ/January 17-22 ~ Five Day Festival Marking the End of the 80 Year Battle Between Heru 𓅃 and Sutekh𓇓𓍢𓏏𓐍𓃩𓀭 which ended with Sutekh abdicating the throne. Spend one day to reread the story, one day for celebrating your victories, one day coping with your defeats, one day pondering ways to compromise and get along with others in your life, and one day pondering the concept of forgiveness. To end the festival, forgive someone, even if only in your head, it doesn’t matter if their offense was huge or slight.
Արաց Ասակ/January 24 ~ Feast of Djehuti 𓅝 𓁟. Do something nerdy, learn something new, write, draw.
Արաց Ցրոն/February 1 ~ Imbolc, Celtic/Wiccan holiday for the beginning of Spring. Originally a holiday for the Celtic Goddess Brigid. In my practice, I reassign the holiday to an earlier Goddess who covers similar domains, Ishtar, Astarte 𓂝𓊃𓍘𓇋𓏭𓂋𓍘𓇋𓏏𓆇 in Her Kemetic form, Saris in Urartian, and a distant predecessor to Armenia’s Astghik.
Արաց Նպատ/February 2 ~ Birthday of Nut 𓏌𓏏 𓇯. A night to stargaze if it isn’t too cloudy. Also Groundhog’s Day, which I celebrate by rewatching the movie. A time to identify and possibly break repetitive cycles in life if such cycles are negative.
Մեհեկի/Meheki
Մեհեկի Արեգ/February 7 ~ Month of Meheki begins; sacred to Mihr.
Մեհեկի Աստղիկ/February 13 ~ Տռնդեզ/Trndez, ancient Armenian holiday for lovers. Somewhat similar in spirit to Imbolc, an early spring celebration. Young couples would join hands and jump over a bonfire for good luck, a happy marriage, fertility, etc. Powerful spellcasting. A great pagan replacement for Valentine’s Day. Although associated most with Mihr, being in His month, it also falls on Astghik’s day of the month, which may be no coincidence as She is a Love Astvadz. Love and Light.
Մեհեկի Ձոպաբեր/February 15 ~ Kemetic month of Little Fire begins (𓂋𓎡𓄑𓊮 𓅫 , Rkḥ-nḏs), Rekh-Neds. Netjeru of the month is Renenutet 𓂋𓈖𓈖𓏏𓆇𓆗.
Մեհեկի Մանի/February 22 ~ Feast of Seeing the Moonlight Rays: Sacred to Duamutef 𓇼𓅐𓏏𓆑
Մեհեկի Կորդուիք/February 28 ~ The procession of Het-Heru. “(...) procession of Hathor the Lady of Dendera with Her divine Ennead; stopping in the House of Birth”. [From the calendar in the Temple of Hathor at Dendera]
Մեհեկի Լուսնակ / March 2 ~ Feast of Chewing Onions for Bast 𓎯𓏏𓏏𓁐. I don’t think it involves taking a big bite out of an onion like it was an apple, I’ll just make some kind of oniony dish and dedicate it to Bast.
Արեգի/Aregi
Արեգի Արեգ/March 9 ~ Month of Aregi begins; sacred to Ra-Aramazd (Ar-Ra), the Armeno-Kemetic Sun God.
Today is also the Feast of the Moon. Make offerings to Djehuti 𓅝 𓁟 and Selardi of Urartu.
Արեգի Մարգար/March 12 ~ Feast of the Providing Moon; the Netjer hosting this holiday are Wepwawet 𓄋𓈐𓃧 and Anpu 𓇋𓈖𓊪𓁢.
Արեգի Արանք/March 13 ~ Kemetic month of Ermouthi (𓂋𓈖𓈖𓆗 , Rnnwtt) Begins.
Արեգի Միհր/March 16 ~ Feast of the Moonlight Rays; the Netjeru hosting this holiday is Nebet-Het 𓉠𓏏𓆇.
Արեգի Երեզկան - Վանատ/March 19-22 ~ The Days of Ostara, Wiccan Spring Equinox Festival
Արեգի Պարխար/March 21 ~ Վահագնի Ծնունդ, the Birth of Vahagn, when he emerged from a reed with a fiery beard and eyes like suns; and the day of his triumph over the Vishap (dragon) of Winter every year. Spring Equinox.
Արեգի Վանատ/March 22 ~ Birth of Horus 𓅃, the Kemetic Spring Equinox holiday. Vahagn and Horus have many parallels. Horus was born in the reeds, Vahagn emerged from a reed.
Արեգի Վարագ/April 6 ~ Մայրերի Օր; Mother’s Day, an Armenian holiday sacred to Anahit, the Golden Mother. A day to appreciate motherhood, not unlike its mainstream incarnation in May.
Ահեկի/Aheki
Ահեկի Արեգ/April 8 ~ Month of Aheki begins.
Ash Wednesday: The sacred day of Ash 𓄿𓈙𓁣, Netjeru of the Desert, Oases and Wine, and Sutekh’s homosexual lover. On this day, make offerings of wine to Ash, and afterwards, say “I am refreshed by this Ash.” Christians have hijacked so many pagan holidays, let’s hijack one of theirs! Its date moves with Easter, but this is the official set date on the calendar (I had a similar conundrum with Vardavar in the summer).
Ահեկի Արանք/April 12 ~ Kemetic month of Khonsu (𓐍𓈖𓇓 , Ḫnsw) Begins. Neteru of the month is Khonsu.
Ահեկի Վանատ/April 21 ~My birthday, the day I came to be stuck on this floating rock in my current incarnation.
Ահեկի Արամազդ/April 22 ~ Earth Day; in my practice I honor the Earth Gods, Geb of Egypt and Spandaramet of Armenia.
Ահեկի Ասակ/April 24 ~ Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day
Ահեկի Ծմակ/April 30 ~ Feast of Kadesh, Kemetic-Canaanite Fertility Netjeret.
Ահեկի Լոպսնակ/May 1 ~ Beltane, a holiday for lighting bonfires and dancing around the may pole; and in Kemeticism, Feast of the Paths Illuminated by the Moonlight. It is sacred to Het-Heru, which fits in well with Beltane, a love-making holiday.
Մարերի/Mareri
Մարերի Արեգ/May 8 ~ The Month of Mareri Begins.
Մարերի Արանք/May 12 ~ Kemetic month of Horus-Khenti- Kheti (𓅃 𓃿𓏏𓇌𓍘 𓄡𓂧 , Ḥr-Ḫnty-ẖty) Begins. This day is dedicated to Seshat 𓋇𓏏𓁐, Lady of the Library. Honor her with writing and art.
Մարերի Անի/May 19 ~ Feast of the Valley, celebrating the union of the living and dead.
Մարերի Անի/May 28 ~ Արաչին Հանրապետուտյան Օր; First Republic Day; the day in 1918 that Armenia emerged victorious in the Battle of Sardarapat, preventing Turkey from completing the Armenian genocide, and founding the First Republic of Armenia.
Մարգաց/Margats
Մարգաց Արեգ/June 7 ~ The Month of Margats Begins
Մարգաց Հրանդ/June 8 ~ Birth of Ihy 𓄿𓇉𓇋, son of Heru and Het-Heru.
Մարգաց Արանք/June 11 ~Kemetic month of Ipet -Hemet (𓇋𓊪𓏏 𓍛𓏏, Jpt-ḥmt) Begins. Also, Heru and Het-Heru’s wedding anniversary. This month is sacred to them both.
Մարգաց Պարխար/June 19 ~ Litha, aka Midsummer, Wiccan festival for Summer Solstice
Մարգաց Արամազդ/June 21 ~ Summer solstice. Feast of Ar-Ra, giving thanks to the Sun, the Star from which our souls and life force have originated.
Մարգաց Արամազդ/June 22 ~ The Waning Sun; a celebration of the shortening days and the coming of Darkness. (Hey, if we’re going to have light celebrations in winter we’re having darkness celebrations in summer, it’s only fair. )
Մարգաց Լուսնակ/July 1 ~ Feast of the Moon Clothed by Light, a holiday hosted by Wepwawet 𓄋𓈐𓃧 on the 20th day of Ipet-Hemet.
Հրոտից/Hrotits
Հրոտից Արեգ/July 7 ~Month of Hrotits Begins
Վարդավար - Vardavar, Astghik’s sacred summer holiday. Originally, people would pour water on each other in order to encourage Astghik to bring rain. For extra magick, add rose pedals to the water, as these are sacred to Astghik. In its original form it fell on Summer Solstice, but after the Christians hijacked it it’s always 90 days after Easter, therefore never on the same day every year. But it almost always falls during Հրոտից. It has a permanent date on my calendar (the first day of Հրոտից), but it’s one holiday I want to celebrate with the rest of the Armenian people, so in practice I observe it when they do, despite it being tainted by the filthy hands of Christians.
Հրոտից Արանք/July 11 ~ Kemetic month of Wep Ronpet (𓄎, Wp-rnpt) Begins. The holiday itself was originally celebrated July 17, and is observed on August 5 on the Armeno-Kemetic calendar.
Հրոտից Նպատ/August 1 ~ Lughnasa, a Gaelic/Wiccan harvest festival. Almost the Wiccan equivalent to Navasard in a way. You think about the last year, and how your efforts have borne fruit.
References:
https://www.facebook.com/AmentetNeferetEgyptianReligion
Amentet Neferet; a Facebook page featuring excerpts from “The Egyptian Religious Calendar” by Luigi Tripani.
https://www.angelfire.com/realm3/shadowsofegypt/Festival.html
A very old website, kinda retro. I don’t agree with all their choices, I just picked what I liked and altered or omitted the rest. I am open to correcting my calendar if this website led me astray on anything, but it does correlate sometimes with “The Egyptian Religious Calendar” by Luigi Tripani, so they must have done at least some research.
Source on the ancient Armenian calendar
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