One can hardly find a person who does not like the Christmas vibe. If you decide to spend your holidays in a new spot and wonder what the Armenian Christmas traditions are, this blog is for you.
Unfortunately, there have been a few snowy days in Yerevan over the past several years. However, when traveling to mountainous regions the tourists enjoy snow-covered monasteries and beautiful landscapes. Anyway, there is always a Christmas mood in Yerevan with Santa Clauses and decorations all around.
Although Armenians celebrate New Year first, the decorations and Christmas markets open from early December. Thus, the capital city’s downtown transforms into a magical land with small cafes and stores competing in Christmas decorations.
This blog will unveil and answer several frequently asked questions about Armenian Christmas traditions and New Year celebrations.
When do Armenians celebrate Christmas?
The Armenian Apostolic Church celebrates Christmas on January 6. The thing is historically all churches celebrated Christ’s birth together with the feast of Epiphany on January 6. However, in the 4th century, the Church of Rome adopted a decision to celebrate the birthday on December 25, while Epiphany on January 6.
This decision was ratified by the Council of Chalcedon in 451. Since then, the Christians of the world, have celebrated birth and baptism separately. Meanwhile, the Armenian Church remained faithful to the tradition of celebrating the birth on January 6 and keeps that law intact today.
Do Armenians celebrate New Year?
Armenians celebrate New Year marking it as one of the most significant occasions during the year. The tradition of having a huge feast on New Year comes from the Soviet era. The Soviet government discouraged the celebration of religious holidays and promoted the celebration of the New Year instead.
The New Year festivities typically begin on the evening of December 31st and continue into the early hours of January 1. It’s time for families and friends to gather for a festive meal and exchange gifts. The countdown to midnight is followed by fireworks in Republic Square where people also gather to celebrate.
Armenians have a tradition of visiting all family members and friends during the New Year holidays which lasted for nearly a week in the past. Now the number of non-working days has been cut and people get back to work on January 3.
There are some must-have dishes that you can find in every family. They include pork leg roast, tolma, various salads, dried fruits, and a lot of sweets, including pakhlava, and gata, a pastry filled with a sweet mixture of flour, butter, and sugar.
How do Armenians celebrate Christmas?
Christmas is a public holiday, so everyone stays at home for a family dinner. On the evening of January 5, a liturgy called “Chragaluys” is translated as “light of a lamp”. People take home lamps and candles lit in the church. They symbolize the divine light, the blessing of the church, and the light of the Star of Bethlehem, which showed the Magi the way to the newborn Jesus.
The morning of January 6 opens with the Christmas liturgy, and the rite of blessing of water is performed symbolizing the baptism of Christ in the Jordan River.
The families either stay at home or visit their friends. However, it is not a day when people exchange gifts or have parties. Christmas is a rather quiet and cozy stay-at-home holiday in Armenia.
By the way, around 33,000 people in Armenia are followers of the Armenian Catholic Church. They mainly live in the Shirak region and celebrate Christmas together with all Catholic Christians on December 24.
What do Armenians eat at Christmas?
Traditionally the week before Christmas was a period of feast. So, there are no meat dishes on the Christmas table. The main dish is fish which has been a symbol of Christianity for centuries. An absolute must-have is sweet rice with raisins and dried fruits. Armenians eat a lot of greens and “pasuts tolma” or a latent tolma made of red beans, rice, lens inside a cabbage wrapping. Armenians usually drink red wine and eat a lot of sweets.
A number one dish of the Armenian Christmas and Easter table is a sweet pilaf with dried fruits. If you want to try this amazing dish, here is a quick recipe to try it at home.
Sweet Rice
First, boil rice in salted water. Fry raisins and dried fruit in melted butter in a preheated pan for 5-7 minutes. You can also add nuts for additional flavor. Mix the rice and fried fruits, cover a pan, and wait for 5 minutes. Now you have an amazing vegetarian dish. Armenians usually put lavash on the bottom of a pan before mixing the rice and fruits.
Why to visit Armenia for Christmas?
Although there may be no snow, there is definitely a festive spirit on the streets of Yerevan. So if you want to spend Christmas in a new country and have a unique and memorable holiday, visit Armenia this winter.
Christmas markets, sparkling decorations, and delicious Armenian cuisine add another layer of joy to your Christmas getaway.
Planning a tour with a knowledgeable tourist guide is essential. Trust your holiday to Levon Travel to enjoy the festive vibe and at the same time unlock the cultural treasures of Armenia. You can either book a short tour or form your own itinerary as Levon Travel is focused on crafting custom-made journeys taking into account budget considerations and the preferences of the tourists.