National traditions of the Armenian people

Armenians are an ancient and original people, their culture is several thousand years old. Through the centuries they were able to carry their cultural identity, language, faith. National customs convey the uniqueness of thinking, values and ideas about the world of this ethnos. Let's talk about the interesting traditions of the Armenian people, their culture and rituals.

Origin of the people

The Armenian ethnos formed at the turn of the first and second millennium BC on the territory of the Armenian Upland. The people were formed by assimilation of several tribes: brigs, Urartians, Luvians, Hurrites, as well as a large number of small tribes. For centuries, there has been a shift and selection of national distinctive features. By the 6th century BC the formation of the ethnos as a whole was completed. During this period, the Armenians settled in the lands of Anatolia, the Middle East and Transcaucasia, and today the people live partly in their historical borders. These territories have always been the object of the desire of the invaders, so the Armenians had to learn to defend themselves, negotiate and adapt, while preserving their identity. In the 4th century AD, the Armenian people adopted Christianity, and more than once will have to suffer for their faith. The history of Armenians is an endless series of oppression, seizures, persecutions. But in all these sufferings, the traditions of the Armenian people rallied people, allowed them to preserve their uniqueness.

Armenian language

Scientists conducted numerous studies of the Armenian language, trying to find its ancestors. However, all the research allowed only to assign the language to the Indo-European group, in which it occupies a separate place. It has certainly been influenced by the languages of neighboring nations, but it has an ancient core that does not go back to any of the known languages. As an independent dialect, the Armenian language is formed already in the 6th century BC. It belongs to a group of ancient written languages, since already from 406 AD has its own unique alphabet. He has not undergone a single change since then. There are 39 letters in the alphabet; Except for deaf and sonorous consonants, as in all Indo-European languages, it has a special sound - a deaf aspirated. Today, the language is presented in the eastern and western versions, it is spoken by about 6 million people around the world. The presence of writing allowed to preserve and spread the folk traditions of the Armenian people and bring them to the modern representatives of the nation.

Worship

The Armenian Church is one of the oldest Christian communities. In the 1st century AD, the first Christian communities appeared on the territory of Armenia . The people adopted this religion in the 4th century. Dogmas and cult rites have a number of distinctive features that distinguish this branch from both Catholicism and the Byzantine version of Christianity, although this version is closer to Orthodoxy. In 301, the Armenian state recognized Christianity as the state religion, becoming the first Christian state in the world. Culture, traditions of the Armenian people are conditioned by his ideas about the special mission of the nation, which preserves the ancient version of religion. For their faith, Armenians have repeatedly had to pay the lives of thousands of people. Religion has had a huge impact on all spheres of people's lives, and today the Armenian Apostolic Church is an important part of the national identity of Armenians.

Traditional Armenian culture

Ancient Armenian culture, which preserved pagan origins and absorbed Christian traditions, is conservative and stable. The main rites developed at the beginning of the first millennium and have archaic roots. Festive ceremonies, culture of everyday life, costumes, architecture, art in Armenia have, on the one hand, unique features, on the other hand, they catch numerous influences of neighbors and conquerors: Greeks, Arabs, Slavs, Turks, Romans. If you describe the traditions of the Armenian people briefly, then they are very original. In Armenia, family values are of great importance today. Difficulties in the survival of the ethnic group led to the fact that Armenians cherish kinship ties and most rituals are held at home, in the circle of friends and relatives. The long unique history of the people led to the fact that the Armenians had a very peculiar art. So, for example, the symbol of the nation are khachkars - unusual stone crosses, like no other culture of the world.

New Year celebration

Happy New Year the Armenians have an intricate situation. Historically, for many centuries the beginning of the year in Armenia was celebrated on March 21, the day of the spring equinox, which was due to ancient pagan cults. This holiday was called Amanor. Despite the fact that this day is not the official beginning of the year for more than 4 centuries, it is still an occasion for a festive family feast. Also in the country is celebrated the "second" New Year - Navasard. It also goes back to pagan traditions and has a long history. Today it is celebrated as the date of the change of agricultural cycles: one is completed, the other begins. But this holiday is not universal, as the Armenian church does not recognize it because of pagan origin. On this day it is customary to cover the table with what the earth has given; Holiday accompanied by fun, songs, dances. This New Year on January 1 began to be celebrated from the 18th century on the orders of the Catholicos of Simeon. This brought together ancient traditions and the influence of secular culture, including the European one. On this day, the whole family should gather at a table on which there must necessarily be a lot of national food, wine, which accompanies many traditions of the Armenian people. For children (photo attached to the article) special dishes and gifts are prepared, they are put in New Year's stockings. The head of the family also gives presents to all members of the family. He raises the first toast, invites everyone to taste honey, so that all the days of the New Year are sweet. On the table there must be a ritual bread - tari hats - with a baked coin. The one who gets it is declared the "lucky person of the year".

Tsakhkazard

Many traditions of the Armenian people combine Christian and ancient pagan holidays. In the last week of Lent, a week before Easter, there is a celebration of spring - Tsakhkazard (analogue of our Palm Sunday). On this day it is customary to decorate dwellings with the help of branches of pussy-willow and olive trees, consecrated in the church. On this day, Armenians go to church, where they wear wreaths from willows. At home there is a festive table with fast dishes. This day is associated with the beginning of spring. People give each other flowers, congratulating on the awakening of nature.

Vardavar

If you list the interesting traditions of the Armenian people, then it is worth remembering the festival of Vardavar, which is celebrated at the height of summer, 14 weeks after Easter. In fact, it resembles the famous Russian holiday of Ivan Kupala. On this day it is common to pour water on each other, sing and have fun. Also on this day people decorate themselves with roses, give flowers as a token of love and disposition. On this day it is customary to launch pigeons into the sky. Vardavar has deep pagan roots, but the Armenian church found in it many conversations with the Bible, and therefore the holiday became a nationwide one.

Wedding Rites

Since the family and family ties are of great value for Armenians, all important milestones in the family are surrounded by special customs. Thus, the national traditions of the Armenian people can be seen in the conduct of wedding ceremonies. The Armenian wedding amazes with its scope and hospitality. In small villages in the literal sense of the word, the whole people come to the wedding. The wedding ceremony begins with collusion, during which the most respected members of the groom's family (only men) go to the bride's house with a request for her hand. After the men have agreed among themselves, the bride can choose a dress, and relatives begin to prepare for the wedding. But the main rite is still preceded by an engagement. A festive meal begins at the groom's house, where he and his relatives collect the prepared gifts and go to the bride's house. There, in a solemn atmosphere, he gives presents to the parents of the bride and herself, the list of presents includes jewelry. Parents bless the young and stipulate the date of the wedding, in a joking manner discuss the size of the dowry. The bride is always given a dowry of money, kitchen utensils, things for the house.

Wedding feast begins with a church rite, instead of witnesses for the wedding, choose "godparents." Usually these are respected relatives from the groom and the bride. During the wedding, a lot of toast sounds. Required the first dance of the young, during which they showered money with wishes of well-being. Each stage of preparation for the wedding ceremony has its own established rituals: from dressing the bride and groom to the menu of a festive dinner. Wedding traditions of the Armenian people (photos of the couple can be seen below) today often lose their original identity, turning into typical European celebrations. But there are families who continue to observe rituals, and so there is still the opportunity to see these beautiful and grandiose festivities.

Birth of a child

Large families with many children are the ancient traditions of the Armenian people. For children various holidays are arranged, they are spoiled, gifts are often given. Therefore, the appearance of a new member of the family is always a huge event, which turns into a great celebration. Karasunk - the rite surrounding the birth of a child - covers a large period of time before and after the appearance of the baby. The main character is Tatmem, something between the midwife and the priest. She helped to take birth, participated in washing the baby before baptism. Forty days after the birth, the mother carried the baby herself to the temple for the first time. Before that, a large cleansing ceremony was held, during which it was poured 40 times with water, it gave 40 bows, it was worn with round-shaped ornaments, which she wore without taking off. Today, the ceremony has become simpler, but it is necessary to have a great celebration at the parents' house, they are given money for christenings and wish the baby health.

Funeral Rites

Aboriginal traditions of the Armenian people by burial of the departed, like all other customs, have two sources: paganism and Christianity. In general, the ritual differs little from similar in Christian practice. But there is a specificity. So, before carrying the deceased from the yard, the coffin is raised three times and lowered, carnations are sprinkled on the road in front of the funeral procession, women are firstly forgiven at the cemetery with the deceased, then they are taken away, and the oldest man in the family says farewell words. At the funeral ritual there must be a ritual dish - hashlama, trays with food are brought to the cemetery.

Culture of traditional costume

In any culture, a suit is a reflection of the philosophy and characteristics of the people. The traditions of the Armenian people are manifested in his national clothes, which has retained its features since ancient times. Men had several types of clothing: for everyday life, elegant and for war. The costume consists of an outer shirt and a caftan - arhalukha. It can be knee-length or mid-thigh. The waist was tied with a scarf. Pants could be wide or narrow. The structure of the female costume is the same, but is divided only into the home and festive. The women's caftan has always been quaintly decorated, the skirt is welcomed with the maximum length. The head of a woman was covered with a handkerchief and a cap resembling a "pill".