14.5 Georgian Holidays and Traditions

Religious and Historical Holidays

Georgian holidays mix very old Christian traditions, folk customs, and modern national celebrations. In this chapter, we focus only on holidays and traditions themselves, not general culture.

Two very important Christian holidays are Christmas and Easter, both celebrated by the Georgian Orthodox Church.

Christmas, “შობა” (shoba)

In Georgia, Christmas is celebrated on January 7 (according to the old calendar used by the church), not on December 25.

Important points:

• Christmas in Georgian: შობა shoba
• Greeting: გილოცავთ შობას! gilotsavt shobas! “Happy Christmas!”
• People often go to church at night, and there are public religious processions.

A special tradition is the Alilo procession.

• Alilo: A Christmas parade where people walk through the streets, sing religious songs, and sometimes collect food or gifts for the poor.
• Children and adults may dress in white or traditional clothes and carry icons or crosses.

Example phrases:

• დღეს შობაა.
  dghes shobaa.
  “Today is Christmas.”
• ჩვენ შობის ირაოზე ეკლესიაში მივდივართ.
  chven shobis iraoze eklesiashi midivart.
  “We go to church on Christmas Eve.”

Easter, “აღდგომა” (aghdgoma)

Easter is one of the holiest days in Georgia.

• Easter in Georgian: აღდგომა aghdgoma
• Literal meaning: “Resurrection”
• Greeting:
• ქრისტე აღდგა! khriste aghdga! “Christ is risen!”
• Response: ჭეშმარიტად აღდგა! cheshmaritad aghdga! “Truly He is risen!”

On Easter, families visit the cemeteries of relatives, bring food, eggs colored red, and share food and wine, remembering family members.

Colored eggs:

• Symbol: New life and resurrection.
• Often dyed red.

Example phrases:

• დღეს აღდგომაა.
  dghes aghdgomaa.
  “Today is Easter.”
• ჩვენ აღდგომის დღეს სასაფლაოზე მივდივართ.
  chven aghdgomis dghes sasaflaoze midivart.
  “We go to the cemetery on Easter day.”

St George’s Day, “გიორგობა” (giorgoba)

Saint George is very important in Georgia. There are actually two St George’s Days in the year.

• St George in Georgian: გიორგი giorgi
• St George’s Day: გიორგობა giorgoba
• Two dates: 23 November and 23 April (Old and New style).

Some people go to church. The name Giorgi is very common, so many people celebrate their name day (see below).

Example:

• დღეს გიორგობაა.
  dghes giorgobaa.
  “Today is St George’s Day.”
• ჩემი სახელია გიორგი. გიორგობის დღესასწაული ჩემთვის მნიშვნელოვანია.
  chemi sakhelia giorgi. giorgobis dghesatsauleli chemistvis mnishvnelovania.
  “My name is Giorgi. St George’s feast is important for me.”

National and Civic Holidays

Georgia also has state holidays that are not religious. These days offices and schools are usually closed.

Independence Day, “დამოუკიდებლობის დღე”

• Georgian: დამოუკიდებლობის დღე damoukideblobis dghe
• Date: 26 May
• Meaning: Celebration of the declaration of independence in 1918.

On this day there are:

• Military parades or demonstrations in some years.
• Concerts, folk dancing, and flags in the streets.

Example sentences:

• დღეს დამოუკიდებლობის დღეა.
  dghes damoukideblobis dghea.
  “Today is Independence Day.”
• ქუჩებში უამრავი დროშაა.
  kuchabshi uamravi droshaa.
  “There are many flags in the streets.”

Constitution Day and Unity Day

Some other civic holidays you may hear about:

• Constitution Day:
• Georgian: კონსტიტუციის დღე konstituciis dghe
• Date: 24 August
• Day of National Unity:
• Georgian: ეროვნული ერთიანობის დღე erovnuli ertianobis dghe
• Date: 9 April

They are more political and commemorative than festive.

Family and Name-Day Traditions

In Georgia, family and guests are central. A special element is the name day.

Name days, “სახელობის დღე”

A name day is the feast of the saint whose name you have.

• Georgian: სახელობის დღე sakhelobis dghe
• Many people celebrate their name day more than their birthday.

For example:

• A person called Giorgi may celebrate on Giorgoba.
• A person called Nino may celebrate on Nino’s day.

On a name day:

• People invite friends and relatives.
• They prepare a supra (festive table, see below).
• Guests bring small gifts or flowers.

Example phrases:

• დღეს ჩემი სახელობის დღეა.
  dghes chemi sakhelobis dghea.
  “Today is my name day.”
• გილოცავ სახელობის დღეს!
  gilotsav sakhelobis dghes!
  “Happy name day!”

Birthday celebrations, “დაბადების დღე”

Birthdays are also celebrated, but sometimes name days feel more traditional and important.

• Birthday: დაბადების დღე dababebis dghe
• “Happy birthday!”: გილოცავ დაბადების დღეს! gilotsav dabadebis dghes!

Children’s birthdays may be celebrated with balloons, games, and cake. For adults, it is more often a table with food and toasts.

Example:

• ხვალ ჩემი დაბადების დღეა.
  khval chemi dabadebis dghea.
  “Tomorrow is my birthday.”
• იგი დაბადების დღეს ოჯახთან ერთად აღნიშნავს.
  igi dabadebis dghes ojaktan ertad agnishnavs.
  “He celebrates his birthday with his family.”

The Supra, Toasts, and the Tamada

One of the most characteristic Georgian traditions that appears in holidays, name days, and family events is the supra.

What is a “supra”?

• Supra: სუფრა supra
• Literal meaning: Table with food.
• Culturally: A festive meal with many dishes, wine, and formal toasts.

A supra can be:

• A big family holiday meal.
• A small gathering for a birthday or name day.
• A celebration for guests or visitors.

There is usually a tamada (toastmaster).

The role of the “tamada”

• Tamada: тамადა / თამადა tamada
• The tamada leads the toasts and the emotional flow of the evening.

Important points:

• People wait for the tamada to start the main toasts.
• Guests do not usually drink before a toast has been made.
• It is polite to listen to the tamada and then drink after the toast.

Typical first toasts:

• To God or peace.
• To Georgia.
• To the guests.
• To parents or ancestors.

Example useful phrases:

• გაუმარჯოს!
  gaumarjos!
  “Cheers!” (literally: “Victory to [someone]!”)
• თქვენს ჯანმრთელობას!
  tkvens janmrthelobas!
  “To your health!”
• გაუმარჯოს ჩვენს სტუმრებს!
  gaumarjos chvens stumrebs!
  “Cheers to our guests!”

Sequence of toasts

Every family is different, but often toasts follow a pattern:

1. To God / peace
• გაუმარჯოს ღმერთს! gaumarjos ghmerts!
  “Cheers to God!”
2. To Georgia
• გაუმარჯოს საქართველოს! gaumarjos sakartvelos!
  “Cheers to Georgia!”
3. To parents
4. To guests
5. To love / friendship / children, and many others.

As a foreign guest, you are not expected to lead toasts yourself, but you may be invited to say a short toast when the tamada gives you the chance. A simple phrase like:

• გაუმარჯოს მასპინძლებს და ამ მშვენიერ დღესასწაულს!
  gaumarjos maspindzlebs da am mshvenier dghesatsawls!
  “Cheers to our hosts and this wonderful celebration!”

is polite and appreciated.

Seasonal and Folk Traditions

In addition to religious and civic holidays, Georgia has seasonal and folk customs.

New Year, “ახალი წელი”

New Year is extremely important and is sometimes felt more strongly than Christmas, especially in cities.

• New Year: ახალი წელი akhali ts’eli
• The main New Year is 1 January.
• There is also “Old New Year” on 14 January, according to the old calendar.

Typical features:

• Fireworks.
• A decorated tree.
• Gifts for children.
• Family supra at night.

Example phrases:

• გილოცავთ ახალ წელს!
  gilotsavt akhal tsels!
  “Happy New Year!”
• ახალი წლის ღამეს ოჯახთან ერთად ვახშმობთ.
  akhali tslis ghames ojaktan ertad vakhshmobt.
  “On New Year’s Eve we have dinner with the family.”

Harvest and wine traditions

Wine is culturally very important in Georgia, and it is connected with many holidays.

Harvest time and wine-making are often linked to:

• Family gatherings.
• Drinking wine together.
• Celebrating the new wine.

A traditional harvest festival is:

• Rtveli: რთველი rtveli
• Grape harvest in early autumn.
• Families and friends pick grapes, press them, and celebrate with food and songs.

Example:

• რთველზე ბევრი ხალხი მოდის.
  rtvelze bevri khalkhi modis.
  “Many people come to the harvest.”
• რთველი ოჯახური დღესასწაულია.
  rtveli ojakhuri dghesatsawlia.
  “The grape harvest is a family celebration.”

How Holidays Feel in Everyday Life

Understanding how holidays are experienced helps you understand some social expectations.

Public vs private feeling

• Public holidays like Independence Day feel visible: flags, concerts, official events.
• Religious holidays are very important for many families, but the focus is often on church and family, not on public events.
• Name days and birthdays: often celebrated privately at home, with a supra and toasts.

For many Georgians, the emotional center of celebration is:

• Being together at a table.
• Listening to toasts of praise, memory, or wishes.
• Drinking wine or another drink after each toast.

As a guest, you are:

• Often invited into this tradition.
• Expected to join in the toasts and respond politely.

Expectations around alcohol and toasts

In Georgian culture:

• Drinking is not constant or uncontrolled.
• People usually drink measured amounts, and the focus is on meaningful toasts.

Important unwritten customs:

• Do not drink before the first main toast.
• Do not interrupt the tamada.
• Drinking silently without a toast is usually not appreciated.

If you are ever unsure, simple questions help:

• როდის შეიძლება სადღეგრძელოს თქმა ჩემი მხრიდან?
  rodis sheidzleba sadgegrdzolos t’qma chemi gvirk’idan?
  “When may I give a toast from my side?”

This shows respect for the structure of the evening.

Examples of Holiday Dialogues

Below are short sample dialogues that connect some expressions with the holidays and traditions.

Visiting on a name day

A:
გილოცავ სახელობის დღეს!
gilotsav sakhelobis dghes!
“Happy name day!”

B:
დიდი მადლობა, მოდი, სუფრასთან დაჯექი.
didi madloba, modi, suprastan dajeki.
“Thank you very much, come sit at the table.”

A:
ვინ არის თამადა?
vin aris tamada?
“Who is the toastmaster?”

B:
ჩემი ბიძა იქნება თამადა.
chemi bidza ikneba tamada.
“My uncle will be the tamada.”

Simple toast at a family supra

Tamada:
გაუმარჯოს ჩვენს სტუმრებს!
gaumarjos chvens stumrebs!
“Cheers to our guests!”

Guests:
(Drink after the toast.)

Guest (you):
მადლობა მასპინძლობას. გაუმარჯოს ამ ლამაზ დღესასწაულს!
madloba maspindzlobas. gaumarjos am lamaz dghesatsawls!
“Thank you for the hospitality. Cheers to this beautiful celebration!”

Vocabulary List

Below is a summary of new or important vocabulary from this chapter.

This vocabulary will help you talk about Georgian holidays and recognize key words when people mention important days like Christmas, Easter, New Year, and Independence Day, and when you hear about supras, toasts, and the tamada.