CHRISTMAS IN THE OLD COUNTRY Western Christians put great emphasis upon Christmas, celebrating it on December 25th. The Armenian Church, however, celebrates the holy birth (Sourp Dznount) of Jesus Christ on January 6th.
During the one-week fast that precedes these activities, Armenian housewives in the old country would clean their homes with care. Then everyone carefully prepared himself or herself, both physically and spiritually, since they were to receive God himself in Holy Communion. In many parts of the old country, Christmas was simply referred to as the feast. All the faithful, young and old, fasted, many eating only one light meal a day. Although the week before Christmas was a time for penance, spiritual joy radiated from all faces. Then the evening of Jrakaloutz arrived. The church bells pealed forth. The people with lit lanterns and candles would go to church to celebrate the birth of Jesus. The Divine Liturgy would take place late in the night, not long before the dawn.
On the morning of January 6th, as dawn broke, the church bells would ring again. Everyone, already awake, already clothed in his or her best finery, hastened to church. All were eager to arrive in time so as not to miss any part of the service, especially the singing of the hymn of the angels, "Glory in the Highest" (Park ee Partzoons). During Holy Communion, no one would be left seated. The whole congregation moved forward to the altar. First the choir members, then the people received the body and blood of our Lord. While the people would partake, the choir would sing the joyous hymn, "0 Great Mystery" (Khorhourt Medz). With the Divine Liturgy completed, the time arrived for the ceremony of the baptism. A large basin of water was placed before the altar. Prayers were offered, hymns sung, while three drops of holy muron, signifying the holy trinity, was poured into the water. Now the cross, which had been submerged in the water, was taken out. Traditionally a layperson would be selected for this special privilege and be known as the "godfather of the cross." The people would then approach with reverence, kiss the cross held by the godfather, and take some holy water home with them. For one week following, every day was considered Christmas. Friends and relatives would visit each other's homes and greet one another: Tzez yev mes medz avedis (To you and us the good news) Krisdos dzunav yev haydnetsav (Christ is born and revealed among us) Orhnial eh haydnootiunun Krisdosee (Blessed is the revelation of Christ) Information drawn from "Loosaper," St. Peter Armenian Church, Watervliet, NY NEW YEAR'S CELEBRATION—ARMENIAN STYLE People have always celebrated the first day of the new year with festivities that set aside the past and welcome a rebirth of time. While the West inherited January 1st from the Romans (the Armenians adopted this in the 18th century), the Armenian gaghant (first day of the month) was actually the first day of the old Armenian month of Navasart, which was in August at harvest time. New Year's Eve and Day is a time of gifts and good wishes. The traditional Armenian family marks the holiday by visiting friends and relatives. Families serve tables of fresh and dried fruits, nuts, seasonal breads (dareen, for example, which means "year" in Armenian). They also give gifts -- often apples with coins, again signifying life -- and new clothes for a new year. In some parts of the Armenian Diaspora, the village elders would go door-to-door dispensing gifts to the needy on New Year's Eve. Elsewhere, gifts and food would be left by the community well.
|
On the eve of this feast, the Divine Liturgy is celebrated. This
is the Jrakaloutz Badarak (the Eucharist of the lighting of the
lamps) in honor of the manifestation of Jesus as the Son of God.
Following this liturgy, the mystery of our Lord's baptism is remembered
in the ceremony of the blessing of water, which symbolizes the
River Jordan. During this ceremony, the cross is placed in the
water and holy muron poured in, symbolic of the descent of the
Holy Spirit upon Jesus.
The solemn Vesper Vigil would be performed. Then young choristers
would begin to read or chant the various prophecies of the coming
Messiah. Finally, the time for the solemn reading of the prophecy
of Daniel arrived. It was considered a great honor to be one of
those chosen to read this moving prophecy. The various families
of the village would compete with each other every year to insure
the selection of one of their own to read this prophecy. One person
would read the narrative of the prophecy and three others would
chant the song of the three holy children -- Shadrach, Meshach,
and Abednego. This was the votch inch eh bido. After this,
the altar curtain, which had been drawn in front of the altar,
was opened and the Divine Liturgy would begin. Everyone received
Holy Communion. At the end of the liturgy, the faithful would return
home with candles lit from the sanctuary lamp, so that they could
light the lanterns and hearth fire of their homes with "the light
of Christmas."