The lovers of the art of the XX-century great Russian poet were brought together nearby Lake Sevan by the Tsveteava campfire. On October 28, the students and lecturers of Russian-Armenian University lit a traditional fire in honour of  Marina Tsvetaeva.

The tradition of Tsvetaeva campfires goes back to 1986. At that time, on the eve of her birthday, the admirers of her oeuvre came to the poet’s hometown of Tarusa and ignited the first fire in her memory. The second Tsvetaeva campfire was lit in Rockville Park near Washington in 1996. By the year 2000, Germany joined the movement. In two years, Tsvetaeva campfires were ignited in 28 cities in 14 countries worldwide. Currently, these fires are lit on all continents with the exception of the Antarctic.

A tradition of Tsvetaeva campfires has been established in Armenia as well, specifically, at the Russian-Armenian University. Year by year, each October, a group of students and professors headed by the Department of Russian and World Literature and Culture drives out into the country, ignites a campfire, reads poems and sing songs reminiscing about  Marina Tsvetaeva and fulfilling her covenant:

“Bird – Phoenix am I, only singing in fire!
Support my high life!”

 

 

 

Translated by Karina Bojukyan,
I year Master’s Student in Translation & Interpretation, RAU