Armenia is the country that was the first in the world, back in 301, adopted Christianity as a state religion. Since then, Armenian folk traditions and customs, many of which were pagan and took shape over millennia, were replenished with church Christian rites and rituals. And many of them intertwined with each other, acquiring a new color. The church adopted and corrected some of the pagan traditions. Today, the inhabitants of modern Armenia continue to sacredly honor most of the customs of their people, considering them an integral part of their culture and history.
Armenia is a country of traditions
This country of Transcaucasia is located at the crossroads between the West and the East, Europe and Asia. She often found herself on the path of clashes of the most ancient powerful powers, great empires. Armenian land has repeatedly turned into an arena of hostilities. Remaining true to its traditions, language and culture, the Armenians were able to maintain their identity. In a word, it is the traditions and customs of the Armenian people that are the secret of its longevity. Sometimes they take on some kind of artificial, demonstrative character, however, returning to them again and again, the inhabitants of the country show respect to their roots and maintain their identity.
Traditions are the main wealth of ancient peoples
Anthropologists, studying ancient nations, came to the conclusion that if representatives of a particular ethnic group deeply feel their roots, are aware of their involvement in this people, then they do not lose their customs over time and sacredly honor the traditions of their ancestors. So the Armenians: they live, develop, adapt to new realities, however, the Armenian traditions and customs that have been formed over many centuries and even millennia by their ancestors remain unshakable. Moreover, representatives of this ancient nation consider them their national treasure and main wealth, and it does not matter to them whether joyful or sad events accompany these rituals.
The main Armenian traditions and customs
From time immemorial, for this ancient Christian people, the main national values ​​have been considered marriage and family, in which the husband remains the head, and the word of the oldest man in the family is the law for all its members. Respect for the elderly is also one of the fundamental traditions of the Armenian people. Family relations are also cultivated in the country, and neighbors will soon become closer to some relatives: they always help and support each other. Well, the biggest tradition in Armenia is hospitality. A person who has crossed the threshold of your house cannot be an unwanted guest. In Armenia, no one will understand the expression "an uninvited guest is worse than a Tatar." For each family, it is a matter of honor with dignity to accept people who have come to their house, “respecting their hearth”. The best place at the table belongs to the guest. And this is a tradition that is passed down from generation to generation.
Modification of family traditions
Further in the article we will tell you more about the relationship between members of the same kind. In this small Transcaucasian mono-ethnic country, Armenian traditions and customs in the family continue to remain unchanged, despite the fact that the Armenians themselves believe that much has changed in their way of life, having received a Western “color”. So, for example, today most young families strive to live separately from their parents, women also take an active part in public life, have become more independent, which means that they are not able to devote themselves entirely to the family. In addition, today, Armenians do not want to get married early, are engaged in career issues, and can even give birth to a child out of wedlock in adulthood.
Family traditions in modern Armenian society
Life is changing, and nothing can remain unshakable. Nevertheless, there are Armenian customs and traditions that are relevant even in the modern Republic of Armenia. The husband is still the head of the family, however, if the family consists of several generations, the older woman has broad rights, and she is accountable only to her spouse, and her sons and their wives must obey her implicitly. Ideally, all this is done with love and respect, but there are many cases where young brides stand up for their rights in the family and in order to avoid a serious conflict, their husbands are forced to separate from their parents' homes.
Son-in-law's place in an Armenian house
Armenian family traditions and customs, as a rule, deny the possibility of a young family living with his wife's parents, that is, with his mother-in-law and father-in-law. There is even a neglecting nickname - “home-in-law”, which is called young men who, after marriage, move to their spouse’s home. However, this custom is often violated today, because sometimes urban girls marry those who came from provincial provinces, who, as a rule, do not have their own housing. Naturally, the young wife does not want to go far away to the house of her husband’s parents, and the newlyweds remain in the wife’s house.
Funeral customs
Almost all peoples of the world have special rituals that give solemnity to the process of burial of a person. It is difficult to describe all the customs and traditions of the Armenian people, especially when it comes to the saddest moments of our lives - parting with a loved one. Moreover, as Christians, Armenians observe all church rites. That is, the deceased is buried either in the church or in his house in the presence of all relatives and friends. At the same time, not only people who personally knew the deceased come to the memorial service, but also friends, acquaintances and colleagues of his family members.
Funeral ceremony
On the day of the funeral, a priest is invited, who again funerals the deceased and, together with the funeral procession, goes to the cemetery. In Armenia, there are areas in which women are not allowed to go to the churchyard on the day of the funeral. Upon returning home, a rich table awaits the participants in the funeral. People eat and, without clinking glasses, drink for the repose of the soul of the deceased. The next day, a group of close people gather in the house and again go to the cemetery, and then gather at the set table, again remembering the dead man. Memorial rites are also held on the seventh and fortieth days and on the anniversary of the sad event, as well as on church holidays: Christmas, Easter, Holy Cross, etc. For 40 days, men (the immediate relatives of the deceased) do not shave their beards, and women are mourning.
Armenian wedding: traditions and customs
Before telling about how the traditional wedding ceremony takes place in Armenia, I would like to describe the details of the matchmaking process. Well, firstly, let's start with the fact that half a century ago, Armenia was more traditional in this matter. There were times when brides and grooms saw each other only on the day of matchmaking or even betrothal. That is, they got married and got married "blindly." Today it is a rarity even in the most remote village. Today, girls and boys first get to know each other, fall in love, meet, then get to know each other's parents, then traditional matchmaking, betrothal, and finally wedding take place. And all this is a tribute to the national, although today only one name is left of these traditions. And all these events are so modified that it’s hard to see even the echoes of the past.
Woman and her place in Armenian society
In modern Armenia, despite all the changes, Armenian customs and traditions are much more strict for girls than for men. So, for example, the fair sex is not appropriate to meet guys on the street. This is exactly what mothers teach their daughters to since childhood. However, today young people manage to get acquainted through social networks, communicate online, and after some time the guys ask for a passion to meet.
According to the modern Armenian tradition, the girl should not immediately agree to the entreaties of the gentleman, she should “check” his feelings, delaying the time of the meeting. If a girl has a brother, especially an older one, then a guy who has views of his sister should definitely meet with him and ask for his permission. In short, secret meetings in Armenia are not approved. After several dates, if the young decide to start a serious relationship, the parents agree on a matchmaking or immediately engage in an engagement: sometimes one gradually develops into another.
Matchmaking
Surely many are interested in how the Armenian wedding takes place. Traditions and customs in modern society have basically lost their relevance, although there are families who advocate the revival of the national and strive in every way to adhere to the rules and canons that were created millennia ago. So, the first step in this process is matchmaking. In the old days, when people lived in small towns and villages, and everyone knew each other, this process was trusted by an intermediary - a common acquaintance for two families. However, today this stage has completely dropped out of a series of pre-wedding events. It’s not customary to go to matchmaking by a large company. The matchmaker group includes mother, father, grandparents, elder brother or sister of the groom. They bring sweets, Armenian cognac, a bouquet of flowers and a golden ring for the bride (but not the engagement ring). Parents of the girl meet them with restraint. There should not be any treats on the table. For some time negotiations are ongoing, the parties get to know each other. The outcome of this conversation may be the most unexpected: either the father of the bride will agree to give his daughter for this guy, or not. In the first case, a girl is invited to the “meeting room”, and the father asks her if she agrees to marry this young man. The girl, as a rule, responds with a slight nod - either denial or agreement. In the first case, the groom comes up to her and puts a ring on the ring finger of her left hand, then glasses are taken out on the table and two bottles of brandy are uncorked. A little of each bottle is poured into each of the glasses. First, the fathers clink their glasses, and then everyone else. Then comes the treat. In case of refusal, the matchmakers leave without even seeing the girl and without asking her consent.
Betrothal
Armenian wedding traditions and customs are very interesting. After the matchmaking follows the rite of betrothal. The main organizer of this event is the bride's side. The girl’s family sets the tables (today it is done in a restaurant), relatives are invited. Side of the groom prepares baskets with gifts. Each of the invited women comes with his gift, placed in a basket with fruits, sweets and drinks. Naturally, for the bride they prepare bouquets, a cake, and, of course, a ring that is already engaged.
This time the motorcade is greeted with open arms and smiles, because the relatives of the groom are welcome guests, future relatives. Then the actual rite of betrothal takes place. Ideally, everything should happen in the church, but this is rarely practiced today. Young just put rings on each other, and parents uncork cognac. Then comes the real feast and
dances, dances, dances ...Wedding
If you want to see what the real Armenian traditions and customs are (photos from some events are in the article), then it is better to go somewhere to the province. In the city, especially in the capital, young people gravitate toward everything foreign, and the Armenian wedding turns into a real mix of traditionally Armenian, European, and sometimes, no matter how absurd it may sound, Arab.
Who is the Cavor?
At the Armenian wedding, the main person is a Cavor (a landed father). In the morning, before the bridegroom recovers for the bride, his father and several of their close relatives and friends go after the kavor and his wife - “kavorkin” - to his house, of course, not empty-handed. After a small feast, the wedding procession goes to the bride's house. By the way, the groom’s mother remains at home to meet the young in an appropriate manner.
In the house of the bride: the ceremony of a wedding dress
Gifts are placed in the basket for the bride (sometimes a dress) and several attributes: shoes (required), veil, perfume, cosmetics, handbag, bouquet, etc. According to the ancient custom, after the matchmakers arrived, all women gathered in the girl’s room and dressed the bride, humming ritual songs. Young was to dress up in everything new, bought by the groom. In the process, one of her shoes disappeared somewhere, and one of the relatives of the bride had to “steal” her. Kavorkin must pay a ransom for the return of the shoes. They put on a veil, twisting it three times around the bride’s head. Then the groom is invited into the room, and he, lifting the veil from the bride’s face, kisses her and leads her out to the guests. However, another obstacle awaits them here. They are blocked by the brother of the bride with a sword in their hands and also require a ransom. This time the groom has to fork out.
Wedding
After a small feast in the bride's house, the young and the wedding procession go to church, where the wedding ceremony is performed. After this, the newlyweds go to the groom's house, where they are met with pita bread and honey by the groom's mother. She sprinkles pita bread on the shoulders of the bride and groom and gives them a spoonful of honey.
This is a sign that they live in peace and harmony. Then the bride and groom should break the plate with the heel in front of the entrance to the house of her newly-made husband. After this, a long feast begins, during which the bride is posed with golden gifts. The last stage is the bride’s dance, after which the young are removed from the hall, but the wedding continues.
In conclusion
Armenian wedding traditions and customs are very rich, original and extremely interesting, and each region has its own characteristics, but they cannot be described in a nutshell. We will talk more about them next time.