[127] The 13th of February according to the old style calendar corresponds to the 26th of February of the Latin calender. [128] Abeghian p. 72. [129] Ibid. p 20. The remainder of the paragraph is a free translation of selected parts of pp. 20-22. [130] Abeghian p. 22. [131] Maschtotz, St. Mesrob. One third of the book is devoted to this purpose. [132] Ormanian p. 189. [133] Abeghian p. 23. [134] Ibid. This and preceding paragraph are a free translation from selected sentences of pp. 23 and 24. [135] Tavernier 1:507-9. [136] Elisée. [137] Lidgett, Ancient People. [138] Ibid. [139] Raffi p. 158. [140] Translated by Miss Boyadjian, Armenian Legends and Poetry. After the first and third lines of the charm song, the following line is sung, which I give in the German of Abeghian: "Liebe Rose meine, liebe, liebe." and after the second and fourth lines: "Liebe Blume meine, liebe, liebe." (Abeghian p. 65.) There are thousands of similarly constructed folk-songs treating a variety of subjects current among the people, many of which have been collected by an Armenian by the name of Tcheras, whose book, unfortunately, I have not been able to obtain. Miss Boyadjian has collected a few of them in her Armenian Legends and Poetry. However, I shall mention only such as are relevant to the festivals to be described. [141] Abeghian pp. 61-62. [142] World's Great Classic Series. Section on Armenian literature, with introduction by Robert Arnot. See David of Sassun pp. 57-79. [143] Abeghian p. 51, 52. Emin, Ancient Armenian Legends. [144] Abeghian p. 62. [145] These beliefs are analogous to those in connection with the bringing of healing water, or the water of perpetual life, the source of which is guarded by monsters, snakes, and scorpions. The hero steals cautiously to the source in order not to be observed by the watchmen, fills his vessel with water and hurries away, for the mountains and trees call out to warn the guardians of the source who awake and follow the hero. (Ibid. p. 63.) [146] This part of the festivities is also accompanied with song. In Astapet the following song is sung by way of introduction: "Holt einen grossen Meister, Lasset ihn den Hochzeitsrock meines geliebten zuschneiden Die Sonne sei der Stoff Der Mond diene als Futter. Stellt aus Wolken die Einfassung her, Wickelt aus dem Meer Seidengarn, Befestigt die Sterne in einer Reihe als Knopfe, Näht die ganze Liebe hinein." (Abeghian p. 64.) [147] Abeghian pp. 63-66. [148] Ormanian pp. 189-90. [149] For the ritual side of this festival, the church ceremony known as the Blessing of the Crops, or the Blessing of Harvest, and the prayers in connection therewith, F. C. Conybeare's Ritual Armenorum, and St. Mesrob's Maschtotz may be consulted. The social side I have gotten from my wife who has taken part in the festival several times.