“Erebouni- Yerevan” History of Celebration

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On October 10 and 11, 2015 Yerevan celebrated with great splendor the festival of “Erebouni-Yerevan”.  It was celebrated for the first time in 1968 on the occasion 2750th anniversary of the foundation of Erebouni fortress (B. C. 782).
“Erebouni-Yerevan” festival is also called “The Festival of Yerevan”, “The Day of Yerevan”: it has become traditional since 1983, (it was not celebrated only in 1991–98).
In the frameworks of festival, there are organized exhibitions of paintings, great concerts in big and small squares, in the parks of the Republic, which are dedicated to Yerevan. In the adjacent square of Erebouni museum there is organized a theatrical performance with the “participation” of the founder of Erebouni fortress King Argishti. The first day ends in Republic square with great holiday firework. The majority of the population of Yerevan and thousands of guests from different regions of the Republic, as well as delegations invited from sister-cities of Yerevan (from Moscow and other cities of Russia, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Georgia, Iran, Moldova take part in the celebration.
For the celebration of “Erebouni-Yerevan” in 1968 there was specially written the song “Erebouni-Yerevan” (lyrics: Paruyr Sevak, music: Edgar Hovhannisyan), which afterwards became the hymn of the city. This song was performed for the first time by the choir consisting of 2750 members under the guidance of Tatul Altunyan.
During the first celebration, in the park adjacent to Republic Square there was also opened the complex of fountains consisting of 2750 drinking fountains.
The festival of the city is usually celebrated on October 10-11.
In 2008 with great splendor there was celebrated the 2790-th anniversary of the city. This year there is celebrated the 2797-th anniversary of the city.

the material is taken from http://mamul.am/am/news/73511

translated from Armenian into English by M.Vardanyan