Proposal for Establishing a National Holiday: Nikolay Grigoryan

Within the framework of the national resilience program, international expert in crisis communications and public awareness, journalist, and rescue service Major General Nikolay Grigoryan presents a proposal regarding the establishment of the Day of the David of Sasun epic as a state holiday.

Nikolay Grigoryan presents the proposal based on the deep cultural foundations of the national resilience idea. According to him, just as Finland formed its national resilience and identity through the “Kalevala” epic, Armenia can also strengthen its identity and form a culture of resilience through its national epic — David of Sasun.

“Our epic is our alphabet, our library, our Matenadaran. The epic is us — yesterday, today, and tomorrow. It can become not only a symbol of national pride but also the cultural cement of resilience,” notes Nikolay Grigoryan.

Nikolay Grigoryan has been studying the David of Sasun epic for forty years, comparing it with more than forty epics from around the world. Now he is also creating a fairy tale-adventure for children about “Super David — David of Sasun,” based on the idea of safety culture and national resilience.

Culture of Resilience as National Strategy

After the Spitak earthquake, during the years of creating the third republic — passing through independence, anarchy, war, and victory — Nikolay Grigoryan formed the information services of Armenia’s Ministry of Emergency Situations and Ministry of Internal Affairs, participated in creating the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Armenia, founded media outlets, taught at universities, and implemented numerous public awareness programs, and in 2019 came to the border region of Tavush.

“At the foundation of all this was our country’s security, resilience, reducing our vulnerability, and increasing the population’s awareness and preparedness,” he writes.

According to Grigoryan, not learning lessons from disasters and wars makes us more vulnerable. He emphasizes the importance of not only remembering and mourning victims but also transforming this into a constructive and viable culture.

“The best memory of earthquake victims is making their country seismic-resistant and disaster-resilient. We must turn December 7th into not only a day of remembrance but also a day of preparedness and resilience.”

The national resilience program, according to him, should become a strategic direction encompassing education, culture, governance, media, and economy.

The main goal of the initiative is to make the Day of David of Sasun a state holiday, strengthening national identity, resilience, and cultural unity.

“The Finns, through their epic ‘Kalevala,’ stood on their feet, united, and still celebrate that day every year with national songs and dances, costumes, diverse cultural events, and educational programs,” writes Grigoryan.

Considering the importance of preserving the cultural heritage of the Republic of Armenia and transmitting it to generations, as well as the strategic necessity of strengthening national identity and forming state values, a proposal is presented to establish the Day of David of Sasun as a state holiday, including it in the corresponding article of the RA Law “On Holidays and Memorial Days.”

The draft law can be reviewed here.

After studying, observations, opinions, and suggestions can be sent to nik@emergency.am.