Christmas in Armenia

Church services are a vital element of Armenian Christmas celebrations, and the most dedicated people strictly observe the Nativity Fast.

This doesn’t mean that Christmas in Armenia is all about penance. Like Americans, Armenians indulge in delicious foods, exchange gifts, and spend quality time with their loved ones.

Armenian towns welcome visitors to look at the fantastic decorations and offer an array of attractions for every preference.

When Do Armenians Celebrate Christmas?

Unlike Americans and most Europeans, Armenians don’t celebrate Christmas at the end of December. Most Armenians are Orthodox Christians, so they celebrate Christmas on January 6 by the Julian calendar.

Everyone used the Julian calendar back in the day, but in the 16th century, Pope Gregory XIII introduced a reform to stop the calendar drift.

Julian and Gregorian calendars have a 13-day difference, so Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas 13 days later than Catholics.

The presence of the Armenian Apostolic Church in the region is substantial – over 92% of Armenians are Orthodox.

Interestingly, Armenia is also one of the most religious nations globally – over 80% of the population state they believe in God with certainty.

However, the remaining 8% of Armenians belong to the Catholic, Protestant, Islamic, and other religions and either celebrate Christmas on December 25 or don’t celebrate it at all.

Grandfather Frost Brings The Gifts

Armenia was once known as the Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic, and the Soviet Union has influenced many Armenian Christmas traditions. For this reason, Armenian children don’t believe in Santa Claus but Grandfather Frost or Ded Moroz.

Grandfather Frost is a Slavic pagan mythological character who was initially a cruel god of winter. According to legends, he could freeze people to death for not behaving well and destroy entire villages.

The Orthodox church tried to portray Grandfather Frost as a demon for centuries. However, over time, the image of Grandfather Frost morphed into a wise and impartial man who is happy to give people a second chance.

With the arrival of the Soviet era, authorities attempted to ban Grandfather Frost, but his figure only became more notable and beloved by children. The Soviet times are gone, but Grandfather

Frost remains integral to Christmas celebrations across the former Socialist Republics, including Armenia.

Like Santa, Armenian Grandfather Frost has a long white beard. However, he doesn’t wear glasses and a red suit – instead, he prefers an ornate blue coat with an equally intricate fur-trimmed hat. Felt boots help him to stay warm in cold winters.

On Christmas Day, after dinner, children stand near the Christmas tree with closed eyes and say, “Grandfather Frost, appear!” loudly multiple times. Then, the parents put gifts under the tree and tell the kids that Grandfather Frost has already visited the house.

However, some Armenians refrain from gift-giving on Christmas Day, considering it a pagan practice, and leave the tradition for New Year’s Eve.

Armenian Christmas Food

Armenia is famous for delicious, savory food, so the Armenian Christmas feast, known as Khetum, is bound to be abundant. However, the recipes are light and easy on the stomach because religious Armenians fast before Christmas.

Armenian Christmas Eve dinner menu consists of yogurt and barley soup, fish, Swiss chard and chickpeas, nuts, dried fruit, and fruit porridge. Armenians drink wine because it symbolizes Christ’s blood.

On Christmas Day, Armenians can indulge in richer dishes. The traditional appetizer is sou boreg, a cheese casserole layered with noodles and topped with fresh herbs and lamb juice. Some Armenians eat mussels stuffed with rice and pine nuts.

The main entrée is usually lamb casserole with veggies and sauce or plov, rice with vegetables, herbs, and lamb. Cooked carrots stuffed with lamb, rice, and pine nuts are another popular dish.

For dessert, Armenians typically eat puff pastry with fruit and nut filling, baklava with sweet and spicy nutty filling, cranberry and citrus cookies, or nutmeg cake. Armenians don’t have a “Christmas cake” like Americans do and can eat these desserts any day.

However, Armenians have Christmas bread called tarehats. Similar to the tradition of hiding a Jesus figurine in the Three Kings Cake, Armenians hide a coin or bean in tarehats. Whoever finds the coin or bean is believed to be lucky the following year.

The alcohol selection is plentiful, including mulberry or apricot vodka, champagne, and brandy. Telling long, heartfelt speeches before drinking is customary. People wish each other luck and success and share stories from the past year.

Church Celebrations

Christmas in Armenia wasn’t commercialized and is only celebrated by genuinely religious people, so attending church services is a must.

Although going to church and celebrating Christmas was prohibited during the Soviet era, the tradition stood firm, and nowadays, Armenian churches are always packed on Christmas Eve.

Orthodox Christian Christmas service consists of three phases. The first phase is known as The Hours and includes biblical readings, psalms, and hymns.

The next phase is Vespers, commencing the actual celebrations of Christ’s birth and including eight biblical readings. The last phase is known as The Vigil and ends after midnight, after which people can go home and celebrate in the family circle.

Armenians buy blessed candles in churches, light them up from the altar, and carefully bring them home. The candles remain lit until the end. Some people also attend a Christmas Mass the following day.

Armenians also bring home holy water blessed by the head priest. They believe that holy water cleanses the soul and can heal the body.

Fasting Before The First Star

Eastern Orthodox Church considers the body and soul to be one whole, so people are expected to observe the Nativity Fast before Christmas to clear their souls.

The Orthodox Nativity Fast lasts for 40 days, beginning on November 28 and ending on Christmas Eve.

Religious Armenians refrain from meat, fish, alcohol, caffeine, and dairy for the entire fasting period. Most importantly, people shouldn’t overeat or overdrink.

Young people rarely observe the entire 40 days of fasting. Still, everyone in Armenia strives to fast the last four days before Christmas – these days are the strictest.

Armenians shouldn’t eat or drink anything on Christmas Eve until the first star appears in the sky. This usually happens early in the evening since winter days are short, but many people wait until they return from the Christmas Mass.

A Family Holiday

For Armenians, Christmas is a religious family holiday. Most people spend Christmas Eve quietly, refraining from food, alcohol, and any bad habits.

After everyone comes home from church, the feast begins, but religious Armenians always celebrate with the immediate family and never with friends, colleagues, or acquaintances. Christmas in Armenia is usually a small, quiet celebration.

However, more and more young people nowadays perceive Christmas as another reason to party with friends and go to bars, pubs, or clubs. Still, partying all night long in large companies is prevalent on New Year’s Eve.

Christmas Decorations

The Christmas tree tradition unites Americans, Europeans, Armenians, and numerous other nations. Despite cultural differences, most Christians around the globe decorate a fragrant fir to celebrate the main holiday of the year.

Armenian Christmas tree decorations aren’t much different from American and include baubles, tinsel, and string lights. Some Armenians still decorate their Christmas trees with Soviet-era glass baubles and garlands.

Apart from the Christmas tree, the interior decorations are usually humble – you won’t see wreaths, garlands, Santa figurines, or stockings hanging on the fireplace in an Armenian home.

Many people arrange small nativity scenes in their homes and light up candles in the windows.

However, significant landmarks and city centers always beam the holiday spirit, shining in a myriad of fairy lights.

Armenia’s largest Christmas tree traditionally stands in the capital city Yerevan. The Christmas tree isn’t always real but impressive regardless, always featuring a creative design.

Christmas Activities

Winters in Armenia are cold, and the mountains of Tsakhkadzor ski resort are covered in fluffy snow. Many Armenians go skiing with friends before Christmas, but most strive to come back home for a family celebration by January 5.

Armenia’s scenic nature and rough terrain call for hiking, and hot springs in Ararat, Tatev, and Hankavan allow visitors to relax and clear their minds.

Like Europeans and Americans, Armenians fancy Christmas shopping and love visiting cozy markets selling festive food, crafts, and gifts. City squares turn into ice rinks, and Winter Park in Yerevan welcomes kids wishing to meet Grandfather Frost.

At the end of December, Yerevan residents and visitors can watch the annual charitable Yerevan Half Marathon, where all participants are wearing Santa suits.

Memorial Day

December 7, the day after Christmas, is Memorial Day in Armenia.

People visit cemeteries to adorn the tombstones of their loved ones with flowers and present food from the Christmas table. Often, they recount stories about the diseased and drink in their memory.

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