Note 7 — Chapter II · Pagan Folk Festivals
Reading edition
In recent years the religious authorities at Etchmiadzin printed the following prohibition in the church calendar: “It is forbidden to run about the fire.” But the festival is celebrated nevertheless.7 That it originates in the pagan festival held in honor of Mihr there is little doubt, for the month of February corresponds to the ancient Armenian month Mehakan, which, translated into modern Armenian, Mihragan, means belonging to Mihr, or more loosely, the Festival of Mihr.