73 replies to this topic

[CheekY]

do you think it's right for Armenians IN Armenia to celebrate it? it's "new" here and people say they "never" celebrated it before... next thing you know they're gonna celebrate Thanksgiving and Halloween...or maybe they already go knocking on doors for candy...

Edited by skittles, 10 February 2004 - 11:56 AM.

[gamavor]

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger!

I just wonder how many of you guys (males) have received presents for Valantine's Day. Isn't "love" suppose to be mutual?

[sev-mard]

It seems eventually these Western commericalized ideas/days seem into most other cultures, its inevitable. When I was in Japan I was very surprised that they had their own milieu of Valentines, Christmas, and even Halloween. Crazy, it's commerical, a way to make money. But also if the people, of Armenia in this example, morph the day into something that culturally means more to them, then I think it's cool

[gevo27]

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger!

I just wonder how many of you guys (males) have received presents for Valantine's Day. Isn't "love" suppose to be mutual?

LMAO... your right.. see noone ever says that... LADIES!!!????????

oh and sure skittle valentines could be celebrated in armenia i gues... Like we said inthe other thread, its waaaay to over comercialised and its all for selling merchanise really.. LOL.. but it can be fun..

bayts inchu menak aperner@ piti lav ban anen aghchickneri hamar, mihatell to aghchiknere lav ban anen eli!!!!! ba meghk chenk, anghighich joghovurt!

[Hye_Acher]

do you think it's right for Armenians IN Armenia to celebrate it? it's "new" here and people say they "never" celebrated it before... next thing you know they're gonna celebrate Thanksgiving and Halloween...or maybe they already go knocking on doors for candy...

Skittles we do have Valentines Day in Armenia and we have been I guess “celebrating” it for a long time. Have you heard of “TR@NDEZ”???? That’s basically what it is…
So its not new to us...

Good Day!!!

[gevo27]

Skittles we do have Valentines Day in Armenia and we have been I guess “celebrating” it for a long time. Have you heard of “TR@NDEZ”???? That’s basically what it is…
So its not new to us...

Good Day!!!

uhhh.. no valentines day would be much much more different than T@rendez.. i dont see how they are the same thing.. lol.. maybe i have misunderstood T@erendez .. clarify please ???!!!!!

[sev-mard]

bayts inchu menak aperner@ piti lav ban anen aghchickneri hamar, mihatell to aghchiknere lav ban anen eli!!!!! ba meghk chenk, anghighich joghovurt!

Here here! here! Give this man a medal!

In japan they have White Day which is March 14th and that's when guys give gifts to girls. But on traditional Valentines day, girls only give gifts to the men they are interested in. So it goes both ways, every year.

[gevo27]

Here here! here! Give this man a medal!

In japan they have White Day which is March 14th and that's when guys give gifts to girls. But on traditional Valentines day, girls only give gifts to the men they are interested in. So it goes both ways, every year.

now why do i not live in japan ??? KOMICHIWA!

[sev-mard]

Omae kozo, konnichi wa.....


I was out there for two years, but had to come back to home and my girl. I was SUPER odar over there. Some of it was fun, but sometimes you'd like to shop at the grocery store and not get stared at or followed.

[Hye_Acher]

uhhh.. no valentines day would be much much more different than T@rendez.. i dont see how they are the same thing.. lol.. maybe i have misunderstood T@erendez .. clarify please ???!!!!!

Thirsty Faith: St. Sargis brings nuptial news via dreams and salt

Each year before the Day of St. Sargis Manush Soghomonyan and her friends prepare for one of the year's most mysterious and interesting traditions.

"Just like many youngsters, every year I'm impatiently waiting for this day," says 16 year-old Manush. "It's a day which can reveal many secrets of your future."

This year the Day of St.Sargis in Armenia is celebrated February 7. It is sort of like Valentine's Day, but with Armenian nuances.

According to folklore, the mighty military leader St.Sargis fell in love with the daughter of a Greek king. He stole the girl, and in order to escape his pursuers started a severe blizzard. In so doing, St. Sargis became something like the patron saint of young love. It is told that there is always wind on St. Sargis Day.

Commemoration of the day includes church services in which young people are blessed. But what makes the day unique is the custom of making and eating salt bread.

"Salt bread is an Armenian tradition coming from old times," says ethnographer and doctor of historical sciences Zhenya Khachatryan. "It gives a chance for single young men and women to see in their dream who's chosen for their life."

According to the tradition, on the eve of St. Sargis Day, the unmarried should fast all day, then eat salt bread -- a round-shaped small and very salty bread which has to be prepared by either a middle aged, kind housewife who is happy in her marriage and believes the sacrament of the day or by the family's grandmother.

The recipe of salt bread is very simple. It is made from flour, salt and water without yeast or other additions. Those who wish to can have the salt bread or its components blessed at church.

"Salt bread has no ritual meaning," Khachtryan says. "The bread is meant to make one thirsty, which, people say, brings about the desired result."

By staying hungry during the whole day youngsters have salt bread before going to bed and then keeping the feeling of strong thirst they go to sleep without drinking water and without saying anything.

According to the tradition on that night St. Sargis intercedes to God and with his help shows the younger ones their future wife or husband. Whoever offers water to a young man or a woman in their dream will become their future wife or husband. If a young man or a woman does not see anyone in a dream, they should not be discouraged, since according to the ethnographer, it can take years for the longed for dream to come.

"I had salt bread last year, but in my dream I saw a sea and no one offered me water," says Karine Khachatryan. "I'll try this year. Maybe I'll be lucky and will see my future husband."

"I deeply believe the tradition of salt bread, since thanks to it my mother saw my father. So having that faith for many years I would eat salt bread, but with no result," says 25 year-old Yeva Smbatyan. "But two years ago I saw him in a dream, the long waited one. The young man approached me and offered me a martini instead of water."

Yeva says even though that was a strange offer in a dream, nowadays such a dream can be accepted.

"I almost forgot about my dream and never took it seriously until I met him, the chosen one," says Yeva. "He was wearing the same clothes and offered that we go to some bar. We hardly sat there when he, Emil, order a martini for me without even asking. Can you imagine? Maybe that tradition is more of a clan thing in our family, I don't know, but my boyfriend and I are together for more than a year and are going to get married in the nearest time. So that night's dream had great meaning."

Ethnographer Khachatryan says that just like the sacrament of salt bread dreams have their own history and comments.

"In the morning younger ones wake up and start discussing their dream with the elder ones of the family. It is also a tradition." says Khachtryan. "If the chosen one has offered water in a golden cup, then they'll have a wealthy and well-provided family. If the water is clear, then the family will be honest, if it's muddy there will be difficulties and cheating in the family and so on. This day has different moods and different stories; however the important thing is people's faith which serves as a beginning for everything."

Gevorik Hamovik... es ho chasetsi vor zuykeri pes nman en Not exactly the same BUT basically....heto Sirun Jan valentines day zuyqeri or e.. che??? nuynpes T@rndeze..., es et mtkov em asel vor menk etpesi ton unenk...
Jigyar mi nexatsi amen inch lav klini

[angel4hope]

why do people need valentines day to express their love and warmth towards someone they care about and love? if you truely love someone....as im beginning to learn (about love ) , you should show them you love them every signle day...not just once a year..

[angel4hope]

btw what ever happened t o"terendez" im armenia? but hey people still celebrate it here... lol i like traditional things...makes/helps you learn more about our culture and history....

[CheekY]

aren't St. Sargis day and terendez different? terendez is on february 13th every year. also on terendez they jump over fire or something and on St. Sargis day they eat "aghi blit" but i don't believe in it and never tried it...probably never will.

[sev-mard]

Terendez, sounds pretty interesting. I'm always into learning about 'days' from different cultures. The fasting and then eating salty bread with no water is kind of harsh though!

[CheekY]

yeah... can't stand salty food! let alone on an empty stomach!

[hyebruin]

aren't St. Sargis day and terendez different? terendez is on february 13th every year. also on terendez they jump over fire or something and on St. Sargis day they eat "aghi blit" but i don't believe in it and never tried it...probably never will.

yeah knowing me and my luck i'll just get up in the middle of the night and quench my thirst myself with a glass of water!!

[sev-mard]

Poor sport! Du future husband ko yeraz-um spasoom a!!

[Jend]

yes, these are different days. Trndez is more pagan, though there is a special service in church. The word "trndez" probably comes from "ter ynd dzez".

By the way, there is a beautiful tradition and what is very important less hamrful for St. Sargis. This is to put a plate full of salt somewhere outside. In the morning one should find a footprint of St.Sargis's horse. I tried once and it was very funny, because I FOUND IT

Last year Trndez and St.Sargis were at the same day. But it depends on year and the calendar.

I personally don't like Valentine day, not because of traditon or culture, but because of consumer-oriented policy. These red hearts are everywhere and they make your life miserable, because you should find your valentine and should receive the mandatory red-heart-shaped present....

[angel4hope]

jend musta bee nthe neigghbors cat...lol or some stray cat hahah

[hyegurl01]

i hate v-day