What is Armenian Christmas called?

by Hratch Tchilingirian. “Armenian

Armenian

The Armenian Apostolic Church (Armenian: Հայ Առաքելական Եկեղեցի, romanized: Hay Aṙak'elakan Yekeghetsi) is the national church of the Armenian people. Part of Oriental Orthodoxy, it is one of the most ancient Christian institutions.

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Armenian Apostolic Church - Wikipedia

Christmas,” as it is popularly called, is a culmination of celebrations of events related to Christ's Incarnation. Theophany or Epiphany (or Astvadz-a-haytnootyoon in Armenian) means “revelation of God,” which is the central theme of the Christmas Season in the Armenian Church.

Why do we celebrate Armenian Christmas on January 6?

Armenian Christmas is a culmination of celebrations of events related to the birth and baptism of Christ. The reason for the different date is that until the fourth century, Christ's birth was celebrated by all Christian churches celebrated Christ's birth on January 6th.

What do Armenians do on Christmas Eve?

One tradition that is still widely observed, however, occurs on Christmas Eve when Armenians go to the church to buy candles, which they take home to brighten the darkest days of winter. “On the fifth of January in the evening, we all go to the churches, and afterwards we take lighted candles with us,” says Danielian.

Is January 6th the real Christmas?

January 6th was the original date for Christmas in the 16th century before it changed to December 25th around the 1590s. In the 16th century, the European calendar became quite confusing. New research from astrologists showed that the year had 365.24 days instead of 365.25, which they had previously thought.

Who celebrates Christmas January 7?

Every year on 6 and 7 January, millions of Orthodox Christians around the world celebrate Christmas, almost two weeks after their western counterparts have already feasted and rung in the New Year.

Armenian Christmas explained

When was Jesus's actual birthday?

The date of birth of Jesus is not stated in the gospels or in any historical sources, but most biblical scholars generally accept a date of birth between 6 BC and 4 BC, the year in which King Herod died.

Who celebrates Christmas January 5th?

Orthodox Christmas is celebrated by approximately 260 million people worldwide, both in majority-Orthodox countries in Eastern Europe, like Russia and Greece, and in communities in Ethiopia, Egypt, and elsewhere.

What religion are most Armenians?

Approximately 98.1% of the country's population is ethnic Armenian. Armenians have a very strong cultural connection to the Armenian Apostolic Church. About 97% of citizens belong to the Armenian Apostolic Church, an Eastern Christian denomination in communion with the other Oriental Orthodox churches.

Is Christmas still pagan?

No, Christmas isn't a pagan holiday, but there are elements of the holiday that can be linked to paganism.

What day is the real Christmas?

Christmas is celebrated on December 25 and is both a sacred religious holiday and a worldwide cultural and commercial phenomenon. For two millennia, people around the world have been observing it with traditions and practices that are both religious and secular in nature.

What do Armenians call Santa Claus?

In Armenia, Santa Claus can be known as Gaghant Baba / Kaghand Papa (a traditional figure who's associated with the New Year) or Dzmer Pap[ik] / Ձմեռ Պապ (which translates as 'Winter Father/Grandfather' and is the Armenian version of Ded Moroz).

What God do Armenians worship?

Later, nature worship was replaced with national gods, among them Vanatur, the supreme god of the Armenian pantheon; Nar, the goddess of fertility; Nane, the goddess of motherhood, wisdom and family protection (Nane's influence is still a part of Armenian traditions, for the people usually call their grandmothers Nane, ...

What is traditional Armenian Christmas food?

On Christmas day, other traditional Armenian dishes will be prepared for dinner such as itch (bulgur salad also known as Armenian tabbouleh), sou boreg, stuffed carrots, soujouk and basterma (two types of sausages) and mezze etc.

Why is Orthodox Christmas different?

Orthodox Christmas day occurs every January 7 because the Orthodox Church still chooses to celebrate the birth of Jesus as per the Julian calendar. The Gregorian calendar that is currently in use today led to a new Christmas Day on December 25 due to the addition of new elements that changed the calendar year.

When was Jesus born on January 6?

Gnostic Christians in Egypt first celebrated Christ's birth around 200 A.D.. Many church leaders identified January 6th as the day of Christ's birth and thus celebrated Christmas then; today, we celebrate Epiphany (or the arrival of the Magi) on that day.

Why do Armenians say Jan?

Jan is a unique word which expresses tenderness and love towards a person whom it is addressed. It shows a person's friendly attitude and willingness of good relations. The word jan is usually placed after the names, for example: Armine jan. Armenians use this peculiar particle very often.

What religion does not practice Christmas?

Among the largest group of Christmas-shunners are the Jehovah's Witnesses, which number close to 2 million in the United States, Kellner writes. The group once observed Dec. 25, but dropped the observance in 1928.

Why is Christmas not in the Bible?

Dec. 25 is not the date mentioned in the Bible as the day of Jesus's birth; the Bible is actually silent on the day or the time of year when Mary was said to have given birth to him in Bethlehem. The earliest Christians did not celebrate his birth.

What Christmas traditions were stolen from pagans?

Things like kissing under a mistletoe, carolling, wreaths, and even gift-giving were all aspects of pagan holidays that were adapted into Christmas celebrations in the early years.

What percentage is Kim Kardashian Armenian?

The reality star and her sisters have often spoken about their Armenian roots. Kim was excited in 2011 when she learned the results of a DNA test on Lopez Tonight that revealed she was 94 percent Armenian and six percent Native American. “That explains all the hair,” she joked.

Who are Armenians genetically closest to?

More specifically, Armenians are close to (1) Spaniards, Italians, and Romanians from Europe; (2) Lebanese, Jews, Druze, and Cypriots from the Near East; and (3) Georgians and Abkhazians from the Caucasus (Figure 2b).

What does the Bible say about Armenia?

The word Bel is named in the bible at Isaiah 46:1 and Jeremiah 50:20 and 51:44. The name Armenia was given to the country by the surrounding states and it comes from the name Armenak or Aram, a great leader and ancestor of all Armenians, known as the great-grandson of Mesopotamian God Haya (Hayk).

Who celebrates Christmas January 6?

Armenian Christmas is celebrated annually on January 6. This holiday has been a part of Armenian traditions for more than 1700 years and has been celebrated in the same way since its inception.

Is Christmas on January 6 or 7?

January 6 is the day traditionally known as Old Christmas. It's a relic of the Julian Calendar, developed 2,000 years ago. In the late 1500s, Pope Gregory XIII changed the calendar to match the solar cycle more closely.

Which country celebrates Christmas first?

World Advent Calendar

Which country will see the sunrise first on Christmas day? New Zealand is the first country to see the sun on Christmas morning. According to the Greenwich Observatory, New Zealand's Balleny Islands are the first land to have sunrise each day.