In ancient Armenia the New Year was a royal feast

In ancient Armenia the New Year was a royal feast

armradio.am
28.12.2007 16:55

In the past there were three main holidays in Armenia ` New Year,
Christmas and Epiphany, each of which was celebrated with special
rituals, artist and ethnographer Lusik Aguletsi said during the meeting
with journalists on December 28th. From January 1 to 12 the New Year
was celebrated as a royal feast. According Lusik Aguletsi, in the past
people decorated a olive tree or a maple tree instead of a fir tree.
Often an artificial tree prepared of wheat ears served a New Year Tree.
It was decorated with different fruits having different meanings. For
example, apples symbolized fertility. Lusik Aguletsi noted that today
Armenians do not attach importance to traditional symbols.

Ethnographer Hranush Kharatyan added that in general many hopes are
associated with the New Year. That is why when visiting each other
people take fresh and dried fruits. One should avoid dropping at one’s
place with empty hands, because it’s a bad sign, according to Hranush
Kharatyan. When visiting someone on holidays it’s necessary to take
presets for the hosts, even if it is just a nut.