ARMENIA

CUSTOM

AND

TRADITION

THE NATIONAL FLAG OF ARMENIA, THE ARMENIAN TRICOLOUR OR YERAGUYN AS CONSISTS OF THREE HORIZONTAL BANDS OF EQUAL WIDTH, RED ON THE TOP, BLUE IN THE MIDDLE, AND ORANGE ON THE BOTTOM. THE ARMENIAN SUPREME SOVIET ADOPTED THE CURRENT FLAG ON 24 AUGUST 1990. ON 15 JUNE 2006, THE LAW ON THE NATIONAL FLAG OF ARMENIA, GOVERNING ITS USAGE, WAS PASSED BY THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF ARMENIA.

THE TRADITIONAL ARMENIAN CLOTHES ARE VERY COLORFUL AND VARIOUS. THE TRADITIONAL MAN'S SUIT CONSISTED OF SILK OR COTTON COLOR SHIRT WITH LOW COLLAR AND SIDE FASTENER AND WIDE TROUSERS FROM DARK WOOL OR COTTON.WOMEN'S TRADITIONAL CLOTHES OF BOTH EASTERN AND WESTERN ARMENIANS WERE HOMOGENEOUS. THE OUTERWEAR INCLUDED A LONG DRESS OF ARKHALUK TYPE WITH A CUT ON CHEST AND CUTS BELOW HIPS.

NATIONAL FUNERAL CUSTOMS ETHICS OF HONORING THE MEMORY OF THE DECEASED HAS BEEN PRESERVED IN ARMENIA. THE CEREMONIES ARE ARRANGED ON THE DAY OF FUNERAL, THE NEXT DAY, ON THE 7TH DAY, THE 40TH DAY AND THE ANNIVERSARY OF DEATH.

ARMENIAN WEDDING IS A VERY BIG HOLIDAY. THE CEREMONY INCLUDES BETROTHAL, ENGAGEMENT AND WEDDING ITSELF. THE TRADITION OF “SEVEN DAYS SEVEN NIGHTS” CELEBRATION HAS BECOME OBSOLETE. THE ABUNDANCE OF GUESTS AT ARMENIAN WEDDING IS A MUST. THE SO-CALLED “GOD FAMILY” ACT AS WITNESSES.

ARMENIANS ARE WELL-KNOWN FOR THEIR HOSPITALITY. ALMOST ANY ARMENIAN THAT YOU MEET; WHETHER ON A MARSHUTNI, WAITING IN LINE, AT MARKETS OR JUST ABOUT ANYWHERE ELSE, WILL INVARIABLY OFFER COFFE, TEA, VODKA, OR A BED FOR THE NIGHT. ALWAYS TAKE THEM UP ON THEIR OFFER - THEY ARE GENUINELY CURIOUS ABOUT YOU AND ONLY WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT YOUR WAY OF LIFE.

ARMENIANS ARE WELL-KNOWN FOR THEIR HOSPITALITY. ALMOST ANY ARMENIAN THAT YOU MEET; WHETHER ON A MARSHUTNI, WAITING IN LINE, AT MARKETS OR JUST ABOUT ANYWHERE ELSE, WILL INVARIABLY OFFER COFFE, TEA, VODKA, OR A BED FOR THE NIGHT. ALWAYS TAKE THEM UP ON THEIR OFFER - THEY ARE GENUINELY CURIOUS ABOUT YOU AND ONLY WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT YOUR WAY OF LIFE

TRADITIONAL HOUSES IN ARMENIAN SETTLEMENTS HAVE A NUMBER OF DISTINCTIVE FEATURES. THE DWELLING IS USUALLY A SQUARE BUILDING WITH STONE WALLS AND DIRT ROOF SUPPORTED BY WOODEN COLUMNS. A WINDOW OR A SMOKE DUCT IN THE ROOF WAS THE ONLY SOURCE OF LIGHT. EVERY HOUSE HAD AN OPEN HEARTH WITH CLAY FURNACE STANDING ON A DAIS.

THE HOSPITALITY OF ARMENIAN PEOPLE IS KNOWN ALL OVER THE WORLD. EACH TIME A HAPPY EVENT OCCURS PEOPLE THROW A PARTY FOR RELATIVES, FRIENDS, COLLEAGUES ETC. DRINKING AND EATING IS A MUST; IF YOU REFUSE YOU ARE NOT AMONG THE ONES WHO SHARE THE JOY. THE MORE OFTEN YOU THROW A FEAST (ON ANY OCCASION) THE MORE YOU WILL GET IN RETURN, ARMENIANS SINCERELY BELIEVE.

 IN THE ARMENIAN TRADITION, PREPARATIONS FOR CHRISTMAS BEGIN WEEKS IN ADVANCE. FAMILIES START BY CLEANING THEIR HOUSES FROM TOP TO BOTTOM IN ANTICIPATION OF THE LOCAL PRIEST WHO VISITS EACH HOME TO BLESS IT WITH SALT AND WATER. SEEDS OF LENTILS, CHICKPEAS, OR WHEAT ARE PLACED ON COTTON BALLS AND ALLOWED TO SPROUT SO THAT FAMILIES ARE REMINDED OF THE REBIRTH OF LIFE THAT COMES IN THE SPRING.

TRADITIONALLY (ESPECIALLY IN RURAL AREAS) ARMENIAN FAMILIES HAVE A LOT OF CHILDREN. A BIRTH OF A CHILD, ESPECIALLY A BOY, IS A HAPPY EVENT WHICH HAS ALWAYS BEEN WELCOME. ON CHURCH HOLIDAYS IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE WHERE A BABY WAS BORN MUSIC PLAYED AND THE HOUSE WAS DECORATED WITH GREEN BRANCHES – THE SYMBOL OF FAMILY CONTINUATION. THE CHILD IS NOT SHOWN TO ANYBODY BUT THE RELATIVES FOR 40 DAYS AFTER BIRTH.

ALLEIZAH TY