10 FASCINATING FACTS TO KNOW ABOUT ARMENIA, AS THE KARDASHIANS ARE EXPLORING THE LAND OF ANCESTORS
14:44, 10 Apr 2015
Siranush Ghazanchyan
Kim Kardashian, Khloe Kardashian, Kanye West and North West
are currently on vacation in Armenia to learn about the land of
the family’s ancestors. While the famous family continues their
sightseeing overseas, E! Online presents 10 fascinating facts about
Armenian culture and history.
1. The Kardashians aren’t the only famous Armenians. Cher is also of
Armenian decent through her father’s lineage. Michael Vartan also
has Armenian blood as does Dita Von Teese and Joe Manganiello. And
although Steve Jobs was of Syrian decent, his adoptive parents Paul
and Clara Jobs were Armenian.
2. Pomegranates are a favorite food among Armenians. Aside from being
tart and delicious, they symbolize fertility.
3. The Armenian people were the first culture in the world to adopt
Christianity as the official state religion after two of Jesus’
apostles, St. Thaddeus and St. Bartholomew, travel through the region
soon after Jesus’ death.
4. They discovered wine (sorry, France!). Back in 2011, scientists
concluded that the real birthplace of wine may have been in a cave
in Armenia. Archaeologist called the cave the “oldest” winery ever
dating back over 6,000 years.
5. Wine isn’t Armenia’s only contribution to the world. They were
also among the first to invent yogurt and coffee.
6. In 1915, 1.5 million Armenians were murdered in the Ottoman Empire
in what is now known as the Armenian Genocide. Turkey, the successor
state of the Ottoman Empire, denies the historical event. The 100th
anniversary of the Armenian Genocide will be honored on April 24.
7. Armenians celebrate Christmas on Jan. 6, the original date of the
Christian holiday.
8. Armenians love to dance (especially a type of line dance) and call
dancing “keff time,” which means party time.
9. Cheese boregs are a traditional Armenian dish made of feta cheese
wrapped in filo dough and baked until golden brown.
10. The word for beautiful in Armenian is “siroon.”
From: A. Papazian