Barkindan

[Arpa]

Yes, Barkindan.

I did not spell it as barekendan or as some diasporans would- Paregentan, parigentan or any other variations thereof.

You will see the resason why I spelled it the way I did.

 

We have been speaking about the Batttle of Avarayr at length but we may have jumped too far ahead as one cannot talk about Vardanants without first talking about Barkindan.

In a previous post I posed the question as to why Vardanants Ton, a commemoration of a battle that happened in late May to early June is given such a confusing date. No one knows what day Vardanants will fall on this year let alone next year or the next. No one has been successful to convince me about the reason why. I have stopped asking the clergy since their answers are outrageously ridicluous. There seem to be Vardanants experts on this forum perhaps they can enlightens us about this ridiculous formula.(bTW, According to the Hanragitaran in Armenian it is celebrated on March 1, a fixed date)

What is the formula? Vardananats must be celebrated on the Thursday of the week immediately before Ash Wednesday, the beginning of lent, pahq.(A word or two about "pahq" later).

 

Tuesday before Ash Wednesday is Barkindan.

 

Even more ridiculous is the answers one gets about the meaning of the word and its origin. I have indicated before that as Ajaraian may be our greatest etymologist and master linguist, as he may be regarded by many, including me, an idol, he is not spared of having "clay feet". His treatment of the word may be one of his poorest jobs. He may have been stomped but did not want to admit. Usually he would go as far as as one can, even to times of antiquity to see when and how the word was used. In this case he seems to be satisfied to succumb to the idiocy of our clergy who are in the habit of interpreting the word as composed of "bari/good" and "kendani/alive". What does that really mean? Some go even further, to more ridiculous lengths saying that since it is a feast just before the "famine" it is an occasion to celebrate life's "goodness" and being "alive".

 

RIDICULOUS!!!

 

It is so obvious. One must go into some of the provincial dialects to get an ideas where and when barkindan came from. Particularly to some of the dialects of Kilikia. You will see why. Zeituntsis and Hajintsis have several variations on the word, the most intriguing is how sometimes they pronounce it as "barkindak". Say it loud and listen to yourself. I did say that the Kilikian dialects may have the key. Why Kilikian? That is because, since Ajarian cannot tell us where and when the word was first used the it is obvious that it was first used in Kilikia. So what did you say? What do the French call the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday? Some English speaking people refer to it as "fat Tuesday". Did you get it? No? Repeat that Armenian word again and listen to it. What does it sound like? What does it rhyme with? Did you say MARDI GRAS? Mardigra? Barginda? BARKINDAN??

When did the Armenians hear and know about barkindan? Does anybody know? Then I will dare and say- During the Kilikian Kingdom when they had extensive contact with the French and other Europeans.

 

Not parekentan, not parikendan, barikendan or some such...

 

It is BARKINDAN

 

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So when is Vardanants this year?

Lets see, Ash Wednesday is on March 5, therefore Barkindan is on March 4, and the Thursday before that will be Vardanants, therefor it will be Feb. 27.

There ought to be a law. How about it guys and gals? There seem to such militant protectors of the Battle of Avarayr. Can we have a less complicated formula to know when the next one and the one after will be?