Do You know that on January 6th Armenians are celebrating Christmas? Mary Christmas!
The Armenian Apostolic Church celebrates Christmas on January 6th.
Some Armenians fast (don't eat anything) in the week before Christmas. The Christmas Eve meal is called khetum 'Խթում'. It often includes dishes such as rice, fish, nevik 'նուիկ' (green chard and chick peas) and yogurt/wheat soup called tanabur 'թանապուր'. Desserts includes dried fruits and nuts, including rojik (whole shelled walnuts threaded on a string and encased in grape jelly), bastukh (a paper-like dessert made of grape jelly, cornstarch and flour). This lighter menu is designed to ease the stomach off the week-long fast and prepare it for the rather more substantial Christmas Day dinner. Children take presents of fruits, nuts, and other candies to older relatives.
Santa Claus Gaghant Baba / Kaghand Papa traditionally comes on New Year's Eve (December 31st) because Christmas Day itself is thought of as more of a religious holiday in Armenia.
In Armenian Happy/Merry Christmas is Shnorhavor Amanor yev Surb Tznund (Շնորհավոր Ամանոր և Սուրբ Ծնունդ) (which means 'Congratulations for the Holy Birth'). Happy/Merry Christmas in lots more languages.
At the beginning of December a big Christmas Tree (Tonatsar) is put up in Republic Square in Yerevan, the capital of Armenia.
Favorite and traditional Holiday foods in Armenia include Anooshaboor (Armenian Christmas Pudding), Khozee bood (glazed ham) and dried fruits. Every house is ready with lots of sweets because anyone might knock on the door and come in for a party!
| Christmas Christmas Day | |
|---|---|
A depiction of the Nativity of Jesus with a Christmas tree backdrop
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| Also called | Noël, Nativity, Xmas, Yule |
| Observed by | Christians, many non-Christians[1][2] |
| Type | Christian, cultural |
| Significance | Traditional commemoration of the birth of Jesus |
| Observances | Church services, gift giving, family and other social gatherings, symbolic decorating |
| Date |
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| Frequency | Annual |
Category: Scholarships
