Georgia, a country positioned uniquely between Europe and Asia, offers travellers a compelling mix of history, stunning scenery, and warm hospitality. Beyond its everyday attractions, Georgia presents a vibrant calendar of holidays deeply rooted in its culture and Orthodox Christian faith. Planning your Holidays in Georgia to coincide with these special dates provides an exceptional opportunity to witness traditions firsthand and gain authentic cultural insights. Combining Georgia Holidays with organized tours can significantly enhance your visit, offering context and perfect travel arrangements. This guide outlines key Georgian holidays throughout the year, suggesting destinations and activities, including specific ideas for Holidays to Georgia, Tbilisi and regional explorations, making it easier to plan memorable trips, potentially through package holidays to Georgia Europe.

The Georgian Holiday Calendar: A Year of Cultural Discovery

Georgia primarily follows the Julian calendar for its major Orthodox Christian celebrations. This means many religious holidays fall on different dates compared to the Gregorian calendar used in many Western countries, offering a unique aspect to your travels. Georgia Starts Here offers  Holidays in Georgia, Europe, specifically designed tours around these important times.

Winter Holidays: New Year, Orthodox Christmas, and Epiphany

• New Year’s Celebrations (January 1-2): Georgia welcomes the New Year with enthusiasm. While families traditionally gather for a supra (feast), Tbilisi features impressive public fireworks displays. This period includes the unique customs of Mekvleoba (Jan 1st), where the first visitor of the year is thought to influence the family’s luck, and Bedoba (Jan 2nd), the ‘Day of Fate’, which tradition dictates should be spent pleasantly to ensure a good year ahead.
• Tour Suggestion: Join the New Year festivities in Tbilisi. Enjoy the decorated streets, public gatherings, and consider booking accommodation or packages that might offer insight into local family celebrations.
• Orthodox Christmas (January 7): Known as Shoba, this is a significant date in the Holidays in Georgia calendar. Major cities like Tbilisi are known for the Alilo procession, a lively parade where participants sing carols, carry banners, and collect donations for those in need. However, exploring different regions offers distinct Christmas experiences.
• Tour Suggestion: Consider spending Orthodox Christmas in Svaneti, a historic region in the Caucasus Mountains famous for its defensive towers. Here, you can observe long-standing traditions, such as the preparation of special ritual breads (lemzir), participate in meals honouring family and ancestors, and attend atmospheric Christmas Eve services in ancient churches, surrounded by dramatic mountain landscapes. Look out for the Chichilaki, Georgia’s traditional Christmas decoration made from shaved wood branches, symbolizing hope.
• Orthodox Epiphany (January 19): Called Natlisgheba, this holiday marks the baptism of Jesus Christ. The central tradition is the blessing of water. You can observe ceremonies where priests bless rivers, lakes, or consecrated water containers, often drawing large crowds at major sites like Tbilisi’s Holy Trinity (Sameba) Cathedral or even at outdoor locations like Paravani Lake.
• Tour Suggestion: Witness the significant water blessing ceremony in Tbilisi or inquire about tours that might visit regional Natlisgheba celebrations for a different perspective on this important religious day.

Spring Celebrations: Commemoration, Faith, and National Pride

• Day of National Unity (April 9): This is a solemn day of remembrance for the events of April 9, 1989, in Tbilisi. Georgians commemorate the day by laying flowers and lighting candles at the memorial near the Parliament building on Rustaveli Avenue.
• Tour Suggestion: For visitors to Tbilisi this day, it’s an opportunity for reflection. Visiting the April 9 Memorial and learning about Georgia’s 20th-century history at national museums provides valuable context.
• Orthodox Easter (Agdgoma – Date Varies; April 20, 2025): This is the most significant religious holiday in the Georgian Orthodox Church. Holy Week leads to Easter Sunday with special services. The highlight is the midnight liturgy starting Saturday night, celebrating the Resurrection. Families prepare traditional paska (Easter cake) and dye eggs red. Easter Monday often involves visits to cemeteries to remember family members
• Tour Suggestion: Experiencing the midnight Easter service in Tbilisi (e.g., at Sameba or Sioni Cathedral) or in the historic town of Mtskheta (at Svetitskhoveli Cathedral) is a powerful cultural experience. Some tours might offer opportunities to join a traditional Easter meal (supra) with a local family in the countryside. Notably, in 2025, Orthodox Easter falls on the same date as Western Easter.
• Victory Day over Fascism (May 9): This day marks the end of World War II for the Soviet Union, including Georgia. Commemorative events often take place, particularly honouring veterans, with ceremonies sometimes held at Vake Park in Tbilisi.
• Independence Restoration Day (May 26): A major national holiday celebrating Georgia’s 1918 declaration of independence. Tbilisi is the main centre for national celebrations.
• Tour Suggestion: This is an excellent time for Holidays to Georgia, Tbilisi. The day typically features significant events on Rustaveli Avenue and Freedom Square, potentially including military parades, oath-taking ceremonies for new soldiers, speeches by national leaders, cultural exhibits (sometimes focused on Georgian wine, food, or crafts), concerts, and evening fireworks. A key moment is typically the performance of the national anthem around 5:10 PM, the historical time of the independence declaration.

Summer Traditions: Religious Feasts and Mountain Events

• Peristsvaleba (Transfiguration – August 19): An important Orthodox feast day observed nationally with church services. It also coincides with a notable regional event.
• Tour Suggestion: Consider a trip to Bakhmaro, a mountain resort in the Guria region. On August 19th, alongside church services marking the Transfiguration, Bakhmaro hosts its famous annual Horse Race (Doghi). This traditional event sees skilled riders competing and marks the closing of summer in the mountains, offering a unique combination of religious observance and local culture.
• Mariamoba (Assumption of Mary – August 28): One of the most widely celebrated religious Holidays in Georgia, this day marks the Dormition (Assumption) of the Mother of God. Churches across the country hold special liturgies, often drawing large numbers of worshippers. The holiday follows a two-week fasting period.
• Tour Suggestion: Attending the Mariamoba service, potentially at a major cathedral in Tbilisi or a regional church dedicated to Mary, offers insight into Georgian Orthodox devotion. It’s primarily a day focused on faith and family.
• Atengenoba (Tusheti – July/August, dates vary by village): This cycle of summer festivals is unique to the remote Tusheti region. Dedicated to local shrines (khati), Atengenoba involves ancient rituals led by shrine priests, including brewing ritual beer (ludi), communal feasts often featuring sacrificed sheep, horse races, and strict traditional customs.
• Travel Tip: Visiting Tusheti during Atengenoba offers a glimpse into a unique, preserved culture. While public events like horse races might be observable, core rituals are deeply traditional and often reserved for the community. Approach with respect and consider guided tours familiar with local etiquette. Requires travel to a remote mountain region.

Autumn Highlights: Harvest, Heritage Sites, and Patron Saints

• Rtveli (Grape Harvest – Variable: Late August to October): Although not an official public holiday, the grape harvest season (Rtveli) is a crucial cultural and economic period, especially in the eastern wine region of Kakheti. It involves harvesting grapes, traditional winemaking (often using large clay vessels called qvevri), and celebratory feasts.
• Tour Suggestion: Participating in a Rtveli tour in Kakheti is a fantastic way to experience Georgian wine culture. Activities can include grape picking, observing the qvevri winemaking process, and enjoying harvest feasts with traditional food and polyphonic singing. Look for specialized wine-focused package holidays to Georgia, Europe during this season.
• Mtskhetoba / Svetitskhovloba (October 14): This major religious and cultural holiday is uniquely focused on the ancient capital, Mtskheta, and its Svetitskhoveli Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage site believed to house Christ’s Robe. The name refers to the “Festival of the Living Pillar Cathedral.”
• Tour Suggestion: Plan a day trip or stay in Mtskheta. Join the thousands who gather for the special service led by the Patriarch inside the cathedral. Afterward, explore the vibrant festival atmosphere outside, featuring cultural performances, market stalls selling crafts and local foods (like churchkhela, a candle-shaped candy), and a strong sense of national heritage and faith. This is one of the most distinctive Georgia Holidays.
• Tbilisoba (Tbilisi City Festival – Usually October): Tbilisi celebrates its identity with this annual festival, typically held over a weekend in October (check specific dates). The city hosts numerous outdoor events, including concerts, food fairs showcasing regional cuisine, craft markets, and various performances in areas like Rike Park and the Old Town.
• Tour Suggestion: If your trip aligns, Tbilisoba offers a lively way to experience the capital during your Holidays to Georgia Tbilisi. It’s a great opportunity to sample diverse Georgian foods and enjoy free entertainment.
• Giorgoba (Saint George’s Day – November 23): Saint George holds special importance as the patron saint of Georgia. This day is observed nationwide with religious services, particularly in churches dedicated to St. George.
• Tour Suggestion: Attending a service on Giorgoba provides another perspective on the deep connection between Georgian culture and Orthodoxy. Regions like Svaneti have particularly strong traditions associated with St. George.

Planning Your Holiday Trip to Georgia

Choosing to plan your Holidays to Georgia around these key dates allows for a richer travel experience, offering direct exposure to the country’s living traditions. Utilizing our guided tours or structured package holidays to Georgia, Europe can be beneficial, providing transportation, accommodation, and valuable commentary that explains the cultural context of the celebrations you witness. Whether attending solemn religious services, joining in national day festivities, or experiencing unique regional events, Georgia’s holiday calendar provides compelling reasons to visit throughout the year. Explore the possibilities and prepare for a memorable journey into the heart of Georgian culture with Georgia Starts here.

Georgian Festivities Calendar