The Armenian Apostolic Church celebrates Christmas on January 6. On this
day it also celebrates the Epiphany (which means the revelation that Jesus was
God's son). Epiphany is now mainly the time Churches remember the Visit of the
Three Wise Men to Jesus; but some Churches, like the Armenian Apostolic Church,
also celebrate the Baptism of Jesus (when he started his adult ministry) on
Epiphany.
Some Armenians fast (don't eat certain foods) in the week before
Christmas. The Christmas Eve meal is called khetum. It includes dishes
such as rice, fish, nevik (green chard and chick peas) and yogurt/wheat
soup called tanabur. Desserts include dried fruits and nuts, rojik
(whole shelled walnuts threaded on a string and encased in grape jelly), bastukh
(a paper-like dessert made of grape jelly cornstarch and flour). This lighter
menu is designed to ease the stomach off the week-long fast and prepare it for
the larger Christmas Day dinner. Children take presents of fruits, nuts and
other candies to older relatives.
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
(which translates as 'Winter Father/Grandfather' and is the Armenian version of
Ded Moroz). He traditionally comes on New Year's Eve (December 31) because
Christmas Day itself is thought of as more of a religious holiday in Armenia.
In Armenian, Happy/Merry Christmas is Shnorhavor Amanor
yev Surb Tznund (which means 'Congratulations for the Holy Birth').
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