Resubmitted Hybrid Essay

Ani Ouzounian

English 114B

Sean Pessin

Hybrid Essay: The Armenian Culture

            Informing others on the Armenian culture was a highlight for me this semester in English class.  I was able to do this by the creation of a blog.  The blog was made in order to inform others about a specific topic interesting to the writer.  The topic I chose was one that was very important to me simply because it was what identified me.  My blog was basically about the Armenian culture and what goes into each celebration or event in order to make it so significant.  My goal was to discuss music, dance, food, traditions, and people.  Since this was a cultural blog, it was important for me to provide enough information without being too prideful.           My inspiration for choosing this specific topic was a quote by William Saroyan.  Throughout my life I have heard this quote about a hundred times and it really meant something to me each time I read or heard it.  I knew that I could have written a story based off of this quote, a story with pictures, videos, and more.  This blog was what created that story.

The Armenian and The Armenian by William Saroyan

  "I should like to see any power of the world

destroy this race, this small tribe of unimportant people,

whose wars have all been fought and lost,

whose structures have crumbled,

literature is unread,

music is unheard,

and prayers are no more answered.

Go ahead, destroy Armenia.

 

See if you can do it.

Send them into the desert without bread or water.

Burn their homes and churches.

Then see if they will not laugh, sing and pray again.

For when two of them meet anywhere in the world,

see if they will not create a New Armenia."

            To start off, I found articles that were great resources about the many different traditions of the Armenian culture.  Each article provided enough information about constructing a cultural Armenian wedding or celebration.  Other than articles, I found videos that might have been interesting for others to watch.  It was just easier to show others how Armenians dance rather than describe it.  I also continuously added photos of the setting in which a wedding may take place and remarkable instruments  like the duduk.  I really enjoyed talking about Shabash and shalaxo because in my opinion, these are two important aspects of a cultural Armenian event.  The shalaxo is one of the most famous dance performed by Armenians and the Shabash is a big piece of Armenian tradition.  I concentrated on dance and heritage more because I knew that's what made my topic so unique.

             A large group of Armenians are dancing to shalaxo music at a traditional sweet 16.  In Armenian dance, arms are always raised high and there is a lot of fast footwork.  This picture has Armenian written all over it. One look is all it takes for the viewer to understand  that it's some type of celebration.  Since my goal was to demonstrate Armenian dance and music along with Armenian people, this photo was worth showing.

             Since I knew my culture wasn't very well known,  I set up a poll to comprehend what my viewers knew about my topic. The question I asked was "Do you know much about the aspects that make up an Armenian cultural celebration?". After the poll was complete, I made a new discovery.  Without the poll, I thought that most of my followers knew something about the Armenian culture or heard about the topic, but I was completely wrong.  While examining my poll, I made a discovery that over half of my blog followers didn't have an idea on what my topic was about.  This gave me a sense of relief because I understood that this blog and my topic choice would be a great resource for those who didn't know anything about The Armenian culture and the traditions that make up its celebrations. 

            Most of my posts had to do with the significance and uniqueness of the topic except for three of them.  These three posts were against my topic and how my topic isn't important.  I thought that these posts might start an argument because of the rude articles I found supporting it.  The articles were criticizing many aspects of the topic and it could have produced an argument with any of my audience.  The first one criticized Armenian music and described it as crappy.  The second article aimed towards the Armenian genocide and how it should just be left alone because it is part of history.  Food was the discussion of the last article I summarized.  The theme of the article was that Armenian food was stolen from the Azerbaijanis.  This wasn't my goal originally but I had planned to post these articles in order to show others how much criticism my topic receives and yet it is still able to be incomparable.  Although there could have been many disagreements, they weren't addressed. 

            There was a lot more that I wanted to further explore on my topic.  I wanted discuss more about food and music.  Although I had the chance, I focused more on the traditions, styles of dance, and history.  There are over a hundred types of Armenian food that I could have touched up on but did otherwise.  There are many famous Armenian singers who had sold out concerts at the staples center and have sold thousands of albums.  These artists are worthy of talking about and there is a lot of information I could have provided about famous Armenian singers.  If I had done so, it could have interested others to listen to Armenian music and even try some Armenian food.

             Although I didn't talk much about the variety of Armenian food, I knew that it was necessary to share about it at least once.  It was my goal in the beginning but there was so much that I could talk about that I didn't have the chance to discuss my ethnic food.  Starting from the kabobs to the wrapped grape leaves, Armenian food is flavorful and divine.  It distinctive taste manages to stay in your mouth  for a while. 

 

            When I first chose my topic, I thought I knew all there was about the Armenian culture.  As I continued to research, there was so much that I learned along the way.  I enjoyed sharing my culture with others and allowing them to be versatile with their choice of food, dance, music, etc.  I know that the Armenian culture isn't so widespread in the United States and so I wanted to share the extraordinary conditions that make up successful and traditional Armenian events, whether it's a wedding or a funeral.

 

Work Cited

"The Armenian Culture." Web log post. Blogger.com. Ed. Ani L. Ouzounian. N.p., n.d.

            Web. 29 Apr. 2013. <http://aniouzounian94.blogspot.com/>.

 

 

 

 

Metacognative Analysis

            My first experience encountering with hybrid essays was this semester in English class.  To be completely honest, this was the first time I even heard about hybrid essays.  After reading a couple hybrid essays, I had a small idea on what made a hybrid essay so different and unique.  It can be a combination of many different pieces of writing or media.  There can be poems, photos, videos added to the essay to make it a hybrid essay.  To clearly create an understanding and get the point through, other sources are used such as the photos and poems.  Instead of the essay describing the photo, the photo is used to describe the essay.  This is able to bring a sense of wisdom for the reader as they read the piece.  There can be a collection of photos or videos with only a couple words as long as the essay has enough information to get its story across. I like how hybrid essays can vary in length and be as long as you desire.  A hybrid essay can also somehow be described as an educational slideshow.

            When I began to write my own hybrid essay, I had trouble starting it.  Although I knew what to write about, it was difficult trying to grab the readers attention.  Since I had to write about my experience with Project Media, I wanted to add every detail and every emotion throughout the process.  I made sure to include what I learned, why this was important, and what I liked about it the most.  The main theme of my essay was how is electronic writing different from other types of writing and how it is beneficial.  I took all the prompt questions and transformed the answer to each question into separate paragraphs.  I did this in order to make sure I explained everything in detail and touched up on every aspect of the question.  In my hybrid essay, I had a combination of the actual essay and a famous Armenian quote.  I wrote how my inspiration for the decision of my topic came from this quote.  I did this so the readers would know why I chose this topic and how I got my ideas or arguments.  I like how Cheyenne Nimes added a poem towards the end of her essay because it gave a clear explanation on what her entire essay was about and that is why I chose to do the same thing. 

            My overall experience with writing a hybrid essay was not too good.  I actually didn't like writing it as much as I enjoyed writing the flash fiction story.  The flash fiction story allowed me to be more creative.  To be completely honest, I prefer not adding anything to my essays, whether they are photos, videos, poems, or quotes.  Just the writing will be enough to provide all the information the reader needs.  Although photos can be entertaining for the reader, what's more important is the writer's choice of style and comfort.  I also felt like we didn't completely understand what a hybrid essay was as a class. If it wasn't for an assignment, I don't think I would ever write another one again. 

Hybrid Essay

            Making a blog this semester in college was a first for me.  It really taught me to go through a certain process in order to successfully create a piece of writing electronically.  I learned that it is much more comprehendible when there are photos, videos, or other sources involved.  The blog was made in order to inform others about a specific topic interesting to the writer.  The blog contained photos, articles, and videos to prove its point by other sources.  The posts of the blog tie in with each other so they can create a unique type of story for the viewers. This allows them to understand the topic easier.  Since this was a cultural blog, it was important for me to provide enough information without being too prideful. 

            Throughout the middle of my blog process, I set up a poll to know what my viewers knew about my topic.  After the poll was complete, I made a new discovery.  Without the poll, I thought that most of my viewers knew something about my topic or heard about the topic, but I was completely wrong.  While examining my poll, I made a discovery that over half of my blog followers didn't have an idea on what my topic was about.  This gave me a sense of relief because I understood that this blog would be a great resource for those who didn't know anything about my topic.  I began to post more often now that I knew who my audience really was. 

            Most of my posts had to do with the significance and uniqueness of the topic except for three of them.  These three posts were against my topic and how my topic isn't important.  I thought that these posts might start an argument because of the rude articles I found supporting it.  The articles were criticizing many aspects of the topic and it could have produced an argument with any of my audience.  This wasn't my goal originally but I had planned to post these articles in order to show others how much criticism my topic receives.  I'm glad that none of my posts caused any conflicts between my followers and I.  Although there could have been many disagreements, they weren't addressed.

            What is so significant about my topic is that it informs my followers what my culture is about and what goes into each traditional event.  The most important part of this process and the blog is that I have to love my topic and I have to think that my topic is significant before I am able to share it with others.  Just like I said earlier, the poll I made was very encouraging for me because it helped me figure out who wasn't educated on my topic.  Many photos and videos were uploaded along with my posts to make the blog more enjoyable and entertaining.  Another reason why my topic was so significant was that as I researched before I posted, I was able to learn more myself.  I thought I knew everything there was about my topic, but I didn't realize that I was only sharing what I knew and that there was so much more. 

            There was a lot more that I wanted to further explore on my topic.  I wanted discuss more about food and music.  Although I had the chance, I focused more on the traditions, styles of dance, and history.  There are over a hundred types of Armenian food that I could have touched up on but did otherwise.  There are many famous Armenian singers who had sold out concerts at the staples center and have sold thousands of albums.  These artists are worthy of talking about and there is a lot of information I could have provided about famous Armenian singers.  If I had done so, it could have interested others to listen to Armenian music and try some Armenian food.

            I was able to learn a lot from this experience with Project Media.  It was interesting using HTML to post different links.  Writing electronically can be beneficial because everyone around the world can see your work.  If you aren't reaching a certain audience, electronic writing can speak to everyone who chooses to see and read your work.  You can use media to add to your pieces of writing.  Photos and videos are able to tell a story without any words included.  What I loved about Project Media was that we were able to upload photos and videos along with our writing in order to paint a better understanding for the viewers.  It is much better when there is a picture or article explaining the writing included.  Even if your topic has nothing to do with you, people can tell what kind of person you are just by your posts.  They can even tell how passionate you are about your topic and how it has affect in your life.

            My inspiration for choosing this specific topic was a quote by William Saroyan.  Throughout my life I have heard this quote about a hundred times and it really meant something to me each time I read or heard it.  I knew that I could have written a story based off of this quote, a story with pictures, videos, and more.  This blog was what created that story.

The Armenian and The Armenian by William Saroyan

  "I should like to see any power of the world

destroy this race, this small tribe of unimportant people,

whose wars have all been fought and lost,

whose structures have crumbled,

literature is unread,

music is unheard,

and prayers are no more answered.

Go ahead, destroy Armenia.

 

See if you can do it.

Send them into the desert without bread or water.

Burn their homes and churches.

Then see if they will not laugh, sing and pray again.

For when two of them meet anywhere in the world,

see if they will not create a New Armenia."

Work Cited

Nimes, Cheyenne. "DIAGRAM :: Cheyenne Nimes." DIAGRAM :: Cheyenne Nimes.

            N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Apr. 2013. <http://thediagram.com/10_1/nimes.html>.

  

Conclusion!!!

When I first chose my topic, I was so excited to create a blog only based on the Armenian culture.  I knew that once I started, it would be hard to stop.  I wanted to cover almost all the aspects of a cultural Armenian event, whether it is a celebration or a commemoration.  I really enjoyed introducing others my viewers to the duduk or the shalaxo dance.  The poll I set up was very helpful because it showed me how many of my viewers knew or didn't know anything about my topic.  Based off the results, I was able to know what to post and how much to post.  I'm sad to say that I have covered almost all of the aspects of an Armenian cultural event.  Although I haven't gotten all the way to the core, I have provided enough information for my viewers to know and understand what goes into an Armenian celebration/funeral.  Maybe sometime in the future I will start posting more photos or videos to continue the enjoyment of my viewers.

Duduk

Instruments are a big part of music because they create the melody and sound.  There are guitars, pianos, violins, trumpets, and much more.  One instrument that a lot of people don't know about is the duduk.  It kind of looks like the flute but doesn't sound anything like it.  It's made out of wood and it has this very unique tone.  There might not be such thing as a racial instrument but, if there was this definitely would be it.  Armenians have played the duduk for centuries and it has been a big part of Armenian cultural music.  You can hear it played in the background of almost every Armenian song.  When it is played on its own, it rarely has a happy melody.  The duduk brings a sad tone to the music and that is what it's really meant for.  The duduk is played at funerals or other sad occasions like the commemorations for the Armenian genocide.  After the genocide, the Armenians portray themselves as the sad race and they can give out their message through the sounds of the duduk.

Although it looks like it's a simple instrument to play, it's actually not.  It's a very difficult instrument to learn because one small mistake is even heard.  One of Armenia's most famous duduk players is Jivan Gasparyan.  He is known for his amazing music and there hasn't been anyone who can play the duduk like him.  He puts all his emotions and worries into his music as he plays. 

 



Saturday Afternoon Poetry

The reading I went to was located at the Pasadena Santa Catalina Library.  It was from three in the afternoon till five in the afternoon on Saturday April 6th.  I actually enjoyed the reading because it was poetry.  There was more than one reader and the host was calling off the names from the long list of readers.  A lot of people got up and read their own piece of poetry and it was nice to hear everyone's story through their poetry.  They began yelling, crying, laughing as they read and that was their true emotions.  Some of the readers were so enthusiastic that they began acting out their poetry.  Although there were only about ten people, it was worth going.

Shabash at a Wedding

As we all know that shabash is a big part of a traditional Armenian celebration including birthdays, weddings, engagements, and christenings.   Shabash is when the guests attending the celebration just start throwing money all over the dance floor.  The money is mainly thrown at the person who through the party or if it's a wedding then it's thrown on the bride and groom.   The money is meant to be bring good luck and financial success. 

The video shown here is a traditional Armenian wedding where money is continuously being thrown around.   The people who are dancing are unknown, but they may be important because the money is being thrown on them.  The dance that they are doing has very difficult and complex moves which may also be the reason why people are continuously throwing money around.  Shabash can also be considered as congratulating someone or telling them that they are doing a good job at the dance they're performing.   Although the shabash is thrown on the men and woman dancing, the bride and groom will most probably receive the money.

To be completely honest, I kind of wish I was there.  This is one of the weddings where I have seen the most money being tossed around.   Usually it is only a couple hundred dollars maximum, but I'm sure the money in this video could have added up to a thousand dollars.  The men dancing in the video are so enthusiastic that they make me want to get up and dance.

The Armenian and The Armenian

"I should like to see any power of the world

destroy this race, this small tribe of unimportant people,

whose wars have all been fought and lost,

whose structures have crumbled,

literature is unread,

music is unheard,

and prayers are no more answered.

Go ahead, destroy Armenia.

See if you can do it.

Send them into the desert without bread or water.

Burn their homes and churches.

Then see if they will not laugh, sing and pray again.

For when two of them meet anywhere in the world,

see if they will not create a New Armenia."

 

When it comes to Armenian people, the touchiest subject one can bring up is about the Armenian Genocide.  Others are probably tired of hearing about it but for the Armenians it's part of history and it just can't be forgotten.  Many documentaries and books are made that discuss this issue but one quote by William Saroyan has managed to stay famous for the Armenian people.  What makes this quote so unique is that it has so many different emotions.  Anyone who has ever read this, can tell you that they have experienced all the different emotions and struggles the quote is trying to describe.  Every time this poem is heard, it can either bring joy or tears to someone. 

This quote discusses the strength of the Armenian people and the Armenian nation.  For example, the Ottoman Empire once tried to destroy Armenia and they were almost successful, but that didn't stop the Armenian people from continuing their traditions.  If that were to ever happen again, then Armenia would stay strong and not let anything or anyone take away what they have.  It informs others about all the undiscovered literature and music that Armenia has and how it's very unique to them as a group of people.  William Saroyan was able to create this by collecting all his thoughts and ideas from the Armenian Genocide and turning it into this great quote. 

This is also one of my favorite quotes to either read or listen to.  It has been able to influence me and many more people throughout the world.

Kim Kardashian

Kim Kardashian is an American model, actor, and fashion designer.  She is best known for her reality show Keeping up With the Kardashians.  Although Kardashian isn't fully Armenian, many of her fans just consider her Armenian.  Her dad was the one who was Armenian and her mom is part Italian and American.  As a matter of fact, Kim and her family aren't very cultural.  They don't know much about the Armenian traditions and history.  Although some believe that the Kardashian family represents the Armenian race, they aren't even close to representing a whole ethnic group.  People have picked the wrong family to represent the Armenian race.  There are many other famous Armenians who are more suitable in representing their culture.  Kim Kardashian can't speak, read, or write in Armenian.  It would be nice if Famous Armenian people in Hollywood would want to be nice role models for Armenian people.  Since Kim Kardashian is such a well-known reality star, she has a great opportunity to set good examples but she chooses otherwise.  If you ask any elderly Armenian man or women what they think of Kim Kardashian and her family, they would tell you that they are ashamed.  Their family portrays Armenians in a certain way that isn't what the Armenian culture is really about.  A lot more people would know more about the Armenian culture and its traditions if famous and even political figures were able to correctly inform its listeners.  I will say that Kardashian has made an effort to have the Armenian Genocide recognized and each year she continues to demand for its recognition.

Shalaxo

Though for Food

            Armenian Cuisine is not like every other type of food.  It's origin came from Azerbaijan's cuisine.  Centuries ago, Armenian's plagiarized the cuisine of the Azerbaijan's.  Their food isn't original but it has been stolen from somewhere else.  Not only the food, but Armenians have managed to take most of their cultural traditions from the Azerbaijanis.

            The main issue of this article is about the Armenian cuisine and how it has been plagiarized from Azerbaijanis.  It contradicts to the topic of the Armenian Culture blog.  The blog discusses what type of food is eaten by the majority of the Armenians and what makes it so special.         

            The author of this article sounds like he doesn't know what he is talking about.  What if the Azerbaijanis stole the cuisines from the Armenians?  What's so special about Middle Eastern cuisine is that it is a lot more different than other types of food.  Although all Middle Eastern food is alike, Armenian food does have a uniqueness.

 

http://www.eurasianet.org/node/66412

Chuck Hagel Has an Armenian Problem

            Hagel was a senator from Nebraska who criticizes the recognition of the Armenian genocide.  He says that what happened in the year 1915 should just be left alone.  Only historians should be the one to decide what happened and why.  People need to move forward and there should be peace between Armenian and Turkey.  Armenian-American leaders saw these comments as insensitive. The Armenian National Committee of America believes that this is an opportunity to whitewash the genocide. 

            Knowing that the Armenian genocide is a big part of the Armenian culture, people should understand that many traditions were changed due to it.  The music Armenians listened to or the way they spoke was changed in order to escape the killings of the Turkish people.  This issue shapes up the main topic of this blog and how it came to be.

            If a senator of a state doesn't decide to recognize the Armenian genocide, then how are any Americans supposed to recognize it.  The American people look up to their leaders and Hagel is doing a bad job at setting a good example.

 

http://freebeacon.com/chuck-hagel-has-an-armenian-problem/

Armenian Music is Terrible

            Someone wants to know if Armenian music and Jewish musical are similar and the answer he gets isn’t what he expected.  Almost all Eastern music sucks because it is repetitive and crappy.  It is also atonal and confused in rhythm.

            The guy's answer discusses only one aspect of the Armenian culture.  My topic is similar to this remark because they both discuss Armenian Music.  Although they are discussed from two different point of views they both talk about the uniqueness of the music.  He talks about how he doesn't like Eastern music (including Armenian music) and how its different from other types of music.  On the other hand, the blog talks about what makes Armenian music so great and how it's different from other cultural music. 

            This man obviously is just stating his opinion but he is being very rude about it.  He sounds ignorant and biased.  He could have said the exact same thing by using different wording.

 

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Is_Armenian_music_similar_to_Jewish_music

Poll

Belaj Banquet Hall

Shabash

Armenian Genocide Commemoration Day: Confronting Denialism

          Though there were survivors of the Armenian Genocide, they kept quiet for many generations.  These survivors were adopted by Muslim families and adopted different identities in order to escape from the killings of the Ottoman Empire.  Professor Ayse Altinay's book called Les Petits-Enfants, discusses the story of these survivors and their second and third generations. 

            Every year on April 24, Armenians gather around to commemorate the death of 1.5 Armenians.  Although most of the international community has accepted this massacre as a genocide, the Turkish government denies this historical crime till this day.  Turkey's denial can be explained as a link between nationalism or militarism.  Turkish activists, intellectuals, and historians contribute to the framing of the Armenian genocide that is publically discussed.  There have been many Turkish scholars who openly speak about the Armenian Genocide and how the denial of the genocide is something that can't be tolerated.   Some of these scholars have been victims to death threats.  Journalists who also openly discuss the Armenian Genocide are punished as well.  30 of the writer are in prison in Turkey and 70 of them are on trial.  So on the day of remembrance, not only should people commemorate but confront denialism.

Response:  The article basically discuses how Armenians, along with other people, commemorate and Recognize the Armenian Genocide every year in April 24.  He also talks about how the Turkish government continues to deny this tragic event.  I may somewhat disagree with his opinion on why he believes that the Turkish government has denied this historical event.  The author is upset by this denial and he wants to fight for it.  What caught my attention was that someone who is not Armenian is willing to fight to get recognition for the Armenian people.  To prove his point, the author uses examples of Turkish people who have risked their lives in order to recognize the Armenian Genocide. 

 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mikaela-luttrellrowland/armenian-genocide-commemoration-day_b_1447786.html

Music and Dance

            Armenian's priceless music comes from a long history that makes it so sacred and unique.  Most of the Armenian composers have been inspired by religious and national songs.  One of those famous composers is Komitas.  His style of music changed after his experiences with the 1915 Armenian Genocide.

            Although there were many singers who passed down their songs to many generations, what interested the Armenians the most was Operas.  The beginning of Armenian Operas of the 19th century brought a new phase to the Armenian music.

            The traditional Armenian folk songs are still alive in Armenia today.  The music has allowed the Armenian people to communicate in another language through the emotions they include within their music.  A famous artist by the name of Djivan Gasparyan, who is known as one of the best duduk players, has influenced people worldwide with the unique sound of the duduk.  He has been able to collaborate with international musicians, which has allowed him to spread the excitement of Armenian music.

            Traditional Armenian music can still be heard today in restaurants or any Armenian celebration.  It is also always present in festivals that take place in Armenia.  Many Armenian singers and musicians represent the development of contemporary Armenian music in the Republic.

            For the Armenian people, the music isn't only composed to be heard, but to be able to enjoy while connecting to it.  One way Armenians are able to connect to the music is through dance.   Armenian dance mostly represents the roots of the Armenian culture when it is accompanied by traditional or contemporary Armenian music.  The gracefulness and rhythm of Armenian choreography, sets it apart from other forms of dance.  With its extraordinary texture, Armenian dance ensembles have been able to win awards and competitions throughout the entire world.

 

http://www.ardani.net/armenia/armenia-culture.php

Hypothesis

Picking my topic was a very easy process.  All I had to do was think about a topic I was well informed on and how I could use my knowledge to inform others.  My culture is what interests me the most and it would give me joy to discover more about its roots.  As I research to find more information on the Armenian culture, not only do I inform others, but I am able to learn more myself.  Picking my subtopics was the most exciting part.  I chose to blog about my three favorite things about my culture: music, food, and traditions.  These three aspects of the Armenian culture contribute to the way Armenians celebrate certain holidays or events.   

Best Armenian Wedding

This video has captured a traditional Armenian wedding.  Throughout the five minutes, the video shows all the important aspects of the wedding.  For example, the guy has his suit jacket being twisted around his head before he wears it, and the girl dances out of her room to meet her guest after she finishes getting dressed.   Both the bride and the groom have a small celebration in their home before the groom comes to pick up the bride.  The groom and his side of the family go to the bride's house before the ceremony in order to take the large gift baskets filled with chocolates and alcoholic beverages.  Both of the families dance together at the bride's house and there are men playing instruments.  For the ceremony,  the bride and groom have the wedding in a church and instead of exchanging vows, they exchange rings and both kiss a cross. As for the reception,  after all the guests are seated, the newlywed couple dance their way in and share their first dance together as a married couple.   The night continues with all the guests joining the couple on the dance floor.  Towards the end of the wedding, the groomsmen carry the bride and groom so that they may dance together in the air.  Just as the bride tosses the bouquet, the groom tosses the bride's garter.  It has always been a tradition to have a huge cake at the Armenian weddings, just like it is shown in the video. 

Armenian Traditions

            Armenians have always succeeded in saving their true culture in which they observe during joyful celebrations and in grief.  They have kept their religion, food , music, and national-old traditions deep in their hearts.  Even today, Armenians have kept certain traditions alive within their lives, such as marriage stability, hospitality, strong relationships with relatives, and honoring of elders. 

            Armenian celebrations is where most of the traditions are expressed.  For Armenians, one of the biggest holidays/events are weddings.  The wedding must have many guests who will witness the couple's promises to each other.  There is also a "God family" present who are the closest couple to the couple getting married.  The bride receives many gifts from the guests, such as money, jewelry, and household items.  Usually the reception of the wedding is a very large celebration.  Someone who is close family to the married couple usually comes to throw money on the couple as they dance.  From the start of the reception to the end, the guests continuously dance and eat.  There is over 30 types of dishes served, starting from appetizers to shish kabob, to fruits and desserts.

            Armenians have a big in honoring the dead when it comes to funerals.  There are many ceremonies arranged for the someone's death.  The ceremonies are usually on the day of the death, the day of the funeral day, the next day. on the seventh day, on the 40th day, and the anniversary of death.  All of the friends and relatives of the individual who passed away, gather around and have a meal together to remember their beloved friend.  The meal together is also a way of celebrating the life of the one who passed away.  The food is always the same for birthdays, funeral, and weddings.  The close friends and relatives also give some money to the dead individual's immediate family.

            Although the Armenian culture consists of different celebrations for different events, the traditions don't seem to change.  The food, rituals, and music is always the same for joyful events.  Although Armenians don't dance during funerals, they eat the same food as they would for a good celebration.  Armenians always remember to respect and honor the ones who are being recognized for the reason of the celebration.

             

 

http://www.advantour.com/armenia/traditions.htm