Asdvadzadzni Don (The Madonna's Day)


This tradition was celebrated specially in Bitias and Haji Hababli. Few days before the "Asdvadzadzin" Sunday, people would start preparing the wheat and the mutton for the "Herisa" (a traditional food made by wheat and meat). Interestingly, before slaughtering the lambs they would feed them blessed bread and salt.
Saturday evening would witness the onset of the collective celebrations and the cooking of the "Herisa". On Sunday morning, all the people would attend the Mass to pray to the Holy Mediator, the Mother of God. After the Mass, the celebrations of the previous evening would resume. People would gather under the trees of the churchyard in high spirits creating joyfull atmosphere. At noon, the "Herisa" would be distributed to the people and the feast would go on until evening.