Motherhood and Beauty Day, 7 April

In Armenia, 7 April is celebrated as Motherhood and Beauty Day. According to the source, after independence people recalled this old holiday, which coincided with the Feast of the Annunciation of the Holy Mother of God. For centuries 7 April was marked in Armenia as a day of woman, mother, beauty and spring, and it was customary to give women flowers and sweets. The calendar now has two official holidays: International Women’s Day (8 March) and Motherhood and Beauty Day (7 April).

The painting shows a haloed woman in a headscarf, a red patterned dress and a white embroidered shawl, holding a naked haloed child. Behind them is an ornamented arch, with mountains in the distance.