IranMania News, Iran
Jan 3 2007

Iranian Armenians celebrate Christmas on Jan. 6

Wednesday, January 03, 2007 – ©2005 IranMania.com

LONDON, January 3 (IranMania) – Head of Isfahan Armenian Council has
said that unlike Christians in most European and American countries,
Iranian Armenians celebrate Christmas concurrent with Armenia~Rs
Orthodox Church on January 6.

Verje Bermard Diorisian told ISNA that the people of Armenia have
celebrated Christmas on January 6 ever since they converted to
Christianity.

~SArmenian churches used to celebrate January 6 as festivity. However,
Catholic churches changed this same date to December 24 later since
it coincided with Mithra Festival,~S he added.

Diorisian noted that in Iran a religious ritual is held in all
churches on the afternoon of January 5 and special baptizing
ceremonies known as ~RBadarak~R are held on January 6 early morning.

~SPeople go to their homes on Christmas eve after holding religious
ceremonies with candles lit. Special Christmas dinner for the
Armenians includes fish and rice. This is while the Europeans and
Americans have either geese or turkey,~S he further added.

The Armenians held a short ceremony soon after the ringing in the New
Year 2007 at midnight of December 31 in Isfahan~Rs Vank Cathedral, he
said adding that the archbishop presents gifts to children on New
Year morning.

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