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#1 MosJan

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Posted 28 December 2001 - 10:38 AM

Holidaze: New Year and Old New Year and two weeks of party in between

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By Marianna Grigorian
ArmeniaWeek reporter
The New Year tree placed annually in central Yerevan's Republic Square has become a barometer of political change in the capital.

The Mayor and heads of municipal departments are changed frequently, leaving their urban development plans only partially complete.

As if to signify the change of leadership, however, the New Year tree seems to grow in height each season. This year, it is claimed the tree will be five to six meters taller than it was last year.

Mayor Robert Nazarian and the head of the municipality's Culture Department, Arman Sahakian, were appointed to their posts earlier this year. They appear determined to make the New Year festivities the most lavish yet.

Approximately 10 million Drams ($18,000) have been allocated for the celebrations, which are doubly long in Armenia because of the tradition of marking New Year according to the new and old calendars - January 1 and 13.

Children at the Zatik orphanage will become the first to feel the breath of New Year. The mayor and municipality's staff members will visit the children with New Year presents and gifts.

Beginning at 11 p.m. New Year's eve until 2 a.m. the city's main celebration will take place in Republic Square, led by Santas and their lovely assistants, the snow maidens, and probably to include a fireworks display.

As 2002 is the Year of the Horse, officials planning this year's holiday celebrations have arranged for Santa to be carried to various events throughout Yerevan in a horse-drawn coach.

And, taking into consideration the importance of celebrating New Year in Armenia by the old calendar, organizers have arranged a special event -- "Bread of the Year" -- to take place at midnight January 12.

Legend has it that the ancient Armenians baked a special bread at New Year which looked similar to Armenian gata, prepared from round pieces of dough and stuffed with sweet filling. The bread symbolized the hoped-for sweetness of the coming year.

Housewives usually filled that bread with beads and coins and the one who found the surprise was considered lucky for the coming year.

On January 13, the tradition will be enacted in public, with a big "bread of the year" baked and divided among guests in Republic Square.

Also on that day will be a fireworks display and performances by popular Armenian artists, many of whom are performing for free as a concession to the economic hard times at City Hall.

"We decided to organize more splendid celebrations than it was last year and to spend less money for that," Sahakian says,. "because besides money allotted for the celebrations our friends are going to help us. And this year we are going to surprise citizens of our city and the celebrations will considerably differ from the ones conducted last year."
Photo by Mkhitar Khachatrian

©Copyright ArmeniaWeek Dec. 28, 2001. all rights reserved. WWW.ARMENIAWEEK.COM is published by the FOURTH MILLENNIUM SOCIETY, publishers of ARMENIAN INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE. Articles may not be published without prior consent.




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