National, traditional costumes of various countries are an important part of their culture. However, with the globalization of cultures and many other exchanges taking place, national costumes seem to be losing their importance.

It is a fact that they have their own uniqueness. They reflect a lot about the history of the country, its culture, traditions. Similar to other national identities, the citizens of a particular nation to have to preserve the value of their national costumes.

As the time passes, people are avoiding to wear national dresses in their routine. They are now more practical, therefore, they look at the comfort of the dress rather than emotions. People mostly go for casual dresses or formal, when at work.

For instance, the national costume of India is “shervani” for men and “sari” for women. Wearing it, however, is time-consuming. Also, it is quite difficult to carry oneself comfortably in it for several hours.

It is sad that national costumes or traditional dresses have lost their importance. Armenians, however, still feel proud when they wear traditional dresses for various events. In international events like Olympics, Miss Universe etc. , each participant represents their country by wearing national costumes.

This, in its place, signifies the value of national costumes and traditional dresses. Also, their place in people’s heart.

Even though the use and preference of national costumes and traditional dresses have reduced over many years, they still are a great source of inspiration for modern fashion and trends. Therefore, it’s right to say that, in the end, they have maintained their importance.

Armenian National Costumes

T A R A Z

Since the ancient times, Armenian Taraz has had aesthetic value. The national costumes of Armenia, or Taraz, reflect the Armenian people’s way of thinking. Not only does it express our identity, but it also one of the main ways of preserving the identity. Taraz has centuries of history. It is rich and diverse as our multifarious language.

We are able to have an idea of the oldest costumes and traditional dresses in the territory of Armenia thanks to the preserved images, ancient art monuments and written sources found during excavations.

During IX – VI centuries BC, on various monuments (frescoes, statues, sculptures, stamps, helmets, shields, etc.) you could see the images of national costumes that belonged to various sections of the population (high class, militaries, priests, ordinary people).

The colors of the four elements dominate in Armenian costumes. According to the 14th-century Armenian philosopher Grigor Tatevatsi, the colors express the following:

The black of the earth, the white of water, the red of the air and the yellow of the flame.

Other than these colors above…

The apricot color symbolizes wisdom and reasonableness. Another meaning for the red color is courage and martyrdom. Blue means heavenly justice, meanwhile, white is for cleanliness.

Taraz, by the way, performs various functions: social, sexual, aesthetic, ritual, erotic, etc. By protecting people from cold or heat, Taraz performed a practical function. By decorating the body, it acquired aesthetic significance.

Aesthetic and erotic functions play a very important role in the costumes and traditional dresses with the tendency to attract the attention of the opposite sex. People have paid special attention to the clothes of a certain age and sex group, especially for the unmarried girls and boys and the bride’s clothing. For the bride, the dress performed a protective function in order to keep her out of the evil forces.

More into the history…

There are archeological materials about the Armenian national costumes. Illustrations and frescos show what they were like in the Van period.

In the records of the Assyrian kings, in the trophies which they took from Urartu, other than livestock, gold and silver jewelry and sculptured stones, they also mention colorful dresses and traditional costumes.

Armenian woman from Shamakhi

About the garments of the Urartian kings, we are able to get a noteworthy idea thanks to the medallion found in Toprak Kale’s excavations. On the medallion, the costumes were ornate and gorgeous. The patterns were clearly visible. They tended to have square ornaments.

The Armenian ancient historians Agatangeghos, Khorenatsi, Yeghishen, Byzant, Parpetsi prove that Armenian kings, queens, and princesses wore noble dresses with the color of an apricot.

There are also remarks about the pieces and dresses produced in Armenia in foreign sources. For example, Arab traveler of the 9th century, Ibn Haukal wrote about the costumes of Dvin: “In Dabile (Dvin), they made woolen fabrics of fluff, silk garments, and there were no such ones in other countries.”

Unique samples from the Ani and Dvin excavations, paintings on medieval Armenia’s churches and secular structures, and valuable materials in miniature prove that medieval Armenia was developed in carpet weaving, canvas. It was also an important source for those who wanted to explore the ancient Armenian costumes.

In addition, historical circumstances have resulted in the formation of two types of national dresses. That is, western-Armenian and eastern-Armenian costumes.

WESTERN ARMENIAN COSTUMES

The costumes of Western Armenia includes the dresses of Vaspurakan, High-Hayk, Sasoun, as well as the Armenian-populated regions of Cilicia and Small Hayk.

Western Armenia’s costumes are distinguished by their herbal and geometric ornaments, which are present both on women’s and men’s clothing.

There was also high-quality jewelry, which completed the appearance of the costume. Numerous sources state that some designs of Taraz of Western Armenia had a certain impact on the national costumes of Kurds, Assyrians and other neighboring peoples living in Vaspurakan, Aghznik, Turuberan.

It is enough to mention an example of Western Armenia’s costumes to get an idea of the great talent of the Armenians, their aesthetic perceptions, and tastes.

The costumes of the High Hayk (the first province of Mets Hayk) are luxurious and beautiful. They have a beautiful golden embroidery, the apron, the complex decorations for the head, the magnificent and high-end gold and silver jewelry make the costumes even better.

The festive gowns ended in a silky handkerchief like decorations, which gave a special shine to the dress. Some people also wore silk belts with inscriptions.

The photographs kept in the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute show that the ornaments of Western Armenia have a lot of relations with other spheres of Armenian art: jewelry making, carpet weaving, miniature painting.

Although the traditional Armenian costumes in Western and Eastern Armenia differed, they had various similarities in terms of colors, designs, and meanings.

Traditional Dresses As An Integrity Of The Armenian Culture

This, in its place, confirms the fact that our traditional costumes, as an element of Armenian non-material culture, do not exist separately. It is a whole system which is closely related to a variety of arts.

For example, goldsmiths and silversmiths made the jewelry for the costumes, and the blacksmiths made the ring-shaped ornaments. Lacework and embroidery were one of the main manifestations of costume making.

Each girl mastered this or that tricks of embroidery, from the simplest to the most complex designs. Elders usually were teaching it to them from early childhood. Besides the fact that it was used in everyday life, it was also used in costumes.

The Armenians wore their national costumes till the early 20th century. As a result of the Genocide, we lost this layer of our culture.

GENERAL INFORMATION ON THE NATIONAL COSTUMES

Taraz For Men

The costumes for men consisted of two main components: the “shoulder” (a shirt, a jacket, a fur coat) and a “waist” or the zonal part (trousers). The shirt collars were decorated with embroidery. The clothes mostly were made of cotton fabric. In addition, Western Armenians used the goat’s wool.

Cherkezi was considered a traditional clothing which men wore over their shirts and jackets. The appearance in a public place without Cherkezi was unacceptable, even in hot weather. Armenian men also wore hats of different shapes, usually made of lamb.

Taraz For Women

The outer garment of women was quite varied – dresses, jackets and sleeveless clothes.

The dresses were made of satin, silk, velvet. The women’s clothing was decorated with embroidery, and the high-class women decorated their clothes with gold and silver fibers.

The female ornaments also played an important role in the dress. Jewelry was kept carefully and transmitted from generation to generation.

Women living in the eastern regions of Armenia were wearing under the dresses red and long trousers, the lower parts of which were made of more expensive textiles. Women’s dresses in Western Armenia were almost the same, but they had some differences, as mentioned above.

Necklaces and silver bracelets were also popular decorations.

Embroidery, which was specific to a woman’s costume, besides the aesthetic function, had another, perhaps more important, ritualistic and protective significance. People believed that those who wore it were protected from the evil, harmful influences.

The same function performed also the women’s headscarf. They say it was to protect the owner even from the back of the neck.

 Taraz in the Modern Life

Nowadays, one can hardly ever find a person wearing Taraz in their daily life. Although with fashion some national elements and ornaments are being used in the style of the Armenian clothes, it is still obvious that Taraz does no longer play an important role.

Today girls can wear shirts with traditional elements or ornaments. Armenians usually wear Taraz during various national events. The ones who wear are mostly folk and national dance groups. Doesn’t matter where they are, they dance (or even sing) with these beautiful costumes. They also present the Armenian history and the culture to different parts of the world.

The Teryan center produces its own collection of Taraz. One can buy Taraz right from the center. There are exhibitions taking place very often.

The center plays an important role in modern Armenian fashion industry. It is very popular. Many celebrities, singers, and various actors buy or rent costumes from Teryan center. The reasons are different. Mostly for their music videos and films. Sometimes for photo shoots, or just because they want to own one.

A new interesting trend for Armenian youth and families is to have a traditional photo with national costumes. The Teryan center is one of the main providers of the costumes.

The center reached the peak of its popularity especially when the Kardashian sisters visited it. You can see it featured in KUWTK (Keeping up with the Kardashians) reality show.

In addition, the center is situated on Teryan street.

THE FESTIVAL OF NATIONAL COSTUMES

From 2015 Armenian people organize one of the most important festivals for the nation and also for the foreigners.

The Yerevan Municipality and Teryan Cultural Center are the organizers.  The idea of organizing Taraz Festival belonged to Teryan Cultural Center.”The Yerevan Taraz Fest” first took place at the Northern Avenue in Yerevan in 2015.

There are many pavilions. The well-known Megerian Carpet-Museum has its own pavilion. They show the patterns of the costumes together with carpets. They show their meanings as well. Marashlyan Photo Atelier also owns a pavilion. There you will have the chance to take a picture in national costumes.

The famous Nani-Zani doll’s shop gives the guests the opportunity to see the unique collection of dolls wearing Armenian costumes. To make the atmosphere even more traditional, the Armenian folk song and dance ensembles also give a concert.

During the Armenian Taraz festival, people present Armenian national costumes and accessories, as well as various national dances, songs, puppet performances.

During the festival, one can see not only traditional costumes but also modern ones with national costume elements. There are certain pavilions visiting which you can find all the new trends of fashion with the Taraz elements. The participants show the traditional Armenian dresses and the modern costumes which include national elements.

The organizer mentioned that all people, without any age limits, can participate in the festival. The event is for those people who own a national costume and want to exhibit it. As well as those who can perform ethnic songs and poems.

“Our main idea is to show the national costume. The jury will then evaluate the costume together with its ornaments; every ornament has to be in accordance with our traditions”, he added.

The application deadline, in addition, is on August 20.

Best Armenian designers exhibit their works which have traditional elements of Taraz

According to Emil Markosyan (a public figure, the idea of the festival also belongs to him), 5 professional designers already applied for participation with their own collection. Other 127 applicants include people from various areas of Armenia. Diaspora also participates.

The competition consists of three rounds, the last one takes place on September 15 in Hakob Paronyan theatre.

“There is a lot of interest towards the festival. This means that it will become annual”, Markosyan said.

The aim of this festival is to show the Armenian culture and also, to maintain the national values of Armenia. It also owns a special place in the life of Yerevan. At this festival, The History Museum shows the national costumes of different regions of Historical Armenia. People can see ancient pictures, also, they can listen to historical reviews about the costumes.

In the end, Taraz reflects the history of the nation and their culture. So, this festival is a great opportunity to go back to the roots and at the same time to introduce the old Armenian traditions in a new way.

Do not miss your chance to be part of this amazing festival, where you can know more about ancient Armenia’s culture and history.

Article Festival of National Costumes is the first on iArmenia: Armenian History, Holidays, Sights, Events.

Wine Varieties

• Red Wine
• White Wine
• Rose Wine
• Fruit Wine
• Mead (honey wine)

Armenian Wine

Since ancient times Armenia was famous for its amazing wine and winemakers. Armenians keep the original traditions of winemaking until this day.

There is a large number of wineries and vineyards in the provinces of the Republic of Armenia. Some wine companies even own wineries.

Armenian Wine in more detail in this article.

List of Wineries

• Aragatsotn Province

The wine of Aragatsotn province is generally from the vineyards in the south of the Aragats and Arteni mountains. The Voskevaz village has an ancient history of wine-making.

Voskevaz Winery was opened in 1932 in Voskevaz. This winery produces many types of wines. Popular brands are Vanakan, Voskevaz, Voskehat, Voskevaz Areni Noir, and Chateau Voskevaz. In addition, Voskevaz Areni Noir red dry wine got awarded gold medal at the Mundus Vini 18th Grand International Wine Award in Germany.

ArmAs Winery(2007, Nor Yedesia) produces Areni wines and the brand is ArmAs. Armenia Wine Winery(2008, Sasunik) produces wine the popular brands of which are Tariri, Takar and Armenia. Wine House Winery(2011, Aghdzk) produces the wine brands Sarduri and Old Wine. Van Ardi Winery(2013, Sasunik)The winery produces the Van Ardi wine brand.

• Ararat Province

The wine in Ararat province is usually from the vineyards of the Ararat plain.

Ararat Cognac Factory (1932, Avshar) produces produces fruit wine. Vedi Alco Winery(1956, Ginevet) produces a variety of wine made of Areni, Kagor, Muscat and Saperavi grapes. Popular brands are Yerevantsi, Getap Vernashen, Hayq, Vivat Armenia. Avshar Wine Factory(1968, Avshar) produces fruit wine.

• Gegharghuniq Province

Samelon Vardenis Winery, opened in 2000 in Vardenis, produces a variety of Armenian wine and fruit vodka.

• Shirak Province

Shirak Wine(2009, Shirakavan) produces wine under the brand Kumayri.

• Tavush Province

The wine produced in Tavush province is mainly from the vineyards of the Aghstev river valley. The Ijevan winery, however, is especially famous for its pomegranate wine.

Ijevan Wine-Brandy Factory(1951, Ijevan) produces a big number of wine brands including Sargon, Ijevan, and Khachkar. One more wine producing factory is Berdavan Wine Factory(Berdavan)

• Vayots Dzor Province

Vayots Dzor is one of the oldest regions that produce wine in the area of Caucasus. The wine particularly comes from the region of Areni. It is also known as Areni wine. Vayots Dzor is where the annual Areni wine festival takes place since 2009.

Getap Wine Factory(1938, Getap) is the branch of the Vedi Alco Winery. Areni Wine Factory(1994, Areni) produces a large variety of red Areni under the brands Vayots Dzor, Lernashen, and St. Etchmiadzin. Another Areni Wine Winery(2003, Areni) produces red Areni. The brands are Areni Wine and Areni Country, also, white Areni under the brand Sun Areni.

• Yerevan

In the Urartian fortress Teishebaini which was close to Yerevan, archaeologists found a winery with 480 karases (wine potteries),. They hold 37,000 daL of wine. During excavations in the oldest settlements of Erebuni/Yerevan, archaeologists found ten wineries which had more than 200 karases.

• Republic of Artsakh

Artsakh, which is the 10th province of the historic Kingdom of Armenia, is famous for winemaking since the ancient times. Specifically, the southern parts where there are many vineyards. It is the home of the Sireni grape variety.

Annual wine festivals take place there. They celebrate viticulture and usually occur after the harvest of the grapes. The typical ingredients of many wine festivals include wine drinking, grape pressing, regional, national foods, music and, in several areas, religious ritual.

The grape together with the extraction of its juice to produce wine is more than a flavorsome food or drink. Both grapes and the wine have a huge cultural significance in many cultures. They often have religious significance too.

Areni Wine Festival

Areni Wine Festival takes place every year in Areni village. This festival gives a huge opportunity to those who want to explore Armenia. Once you attend the Wine Festival in Areni, you will never forget the bright impressions.

Here one can taste the wide assortment of best Armenian wines. The Republic of Armenia is famous for its good wine-makers together with its old traditions of wine-making. In addition, these traditions are preserved till nowadays. According to the legend of the Bible, winemaking dates back to the time, when Noah planted grape vine on the slope of Mt Ararat.

During the archeological explorations, they found seeds of grapes in Armenia. This fact proves that winemaking holds the history of centuries in Ararat Valley. Lots of tares and many winemaking equipment have been found in the caves of Areni village.

As the traditional and annual “Areni Wine Festival” takes place, wine producing factories and also individual wine producers present their products. After then, everyone gets the chance to taste the best Armenian wines and then find the best one for them.

During the festival, various events also take place…

There are traditional dances, songs, food making and tasting, wine-making and tasting. Also, traditional games and even competitions. There are also such contests as “Armenia in your eyes”, the best wine -label contest as well as “Homemade wine producers” contest and “The best souvenir of the festival” contest.

Article Wine Festival is the first on iArmenia: Armenian History, Holidays, Sights, Events.

ARMENIAN CARPET: HISTORY

Since the ancient times, people have used carpets as household items for everyday life. They laid them on the floors, chests, seats. Also, selling it abroad was profitable.

According to the archeological excavations, carpet weaving in Armenia actually appeared in II to I millennium BC. In addition, the ancient technique, design, and also colors are very similar the ones people use or weave in our days.

Carpets in ancient Armenia were made of wool, silk, cotton, and linen. There were various ornaments of the carpets. The ones depicting the tree of life and also, the vegetation geometric carpets which had floral decor together with images of birds and horses were particularly popular. “An eagle” and “cross” were another popular medieval symbols for the Armenian carpets.

In the Middle Ages, according to an Arabian geographer As-Saalibi, the quality of sheep wool from Armenia was on the second place, after the Egyptian wool. In addition, the Persian wool took the 3rd place.

The preparation of a wool for carpet was, however, quite difficult. The weaver had to wash the wool up to ten times in flowing water. Then, had to pull out, spin on spindles. After which, the weaver painted, fixed a paint alum, and also used salt and lime to make it shine more, then soaked in whey.

Armenians used only natural dyes. For instance, in order to produce the red color, Armenians used the famous “Vordan karmir” (Worm’s red). They received it from the Armenian cochineal or Ararat cochineal since it originated in the Ararat valley. It was also exported to different countries of the world.

Were Armenian carpets really that good?

The 14th and 15th-century Armenian manuscripts depict Mary as a weaver and spinner. This, in its place, demonstrates that weaving and spinning actually played a huge part in the Armenian daily life.

Among all the other items and money, Armenia gave 20 carpets a year to the Arabian caliphate. Another example of the importance of Armenian carpets was that when a dispute arose, in order to solve the problems the Persians and the Arabs sent many gifts to each other. Among them, they especially emphasized the existence of Armenian rugs.

The Distinguishing Features of Armenian Carpets

• The main difference for the Armenian rugs is that Armenians use animal or human figures as ornaments.
• Cross-shaped ornaments are another distinctive feature. The basic pattern of this ornament is one or more crosses depicted in a frame or without it. If there are several crosses, they are arranged in rows.
• Armenian masters traditionally used double knots, which are used up to now. This is a unique and popular Armenian technology that allows the carpet to have a “long life”.
• Armenian carpets often depict the God in the form of a floral cross, a sun or a star. Usually, you can see the symbol in the center of the carpet. The entire composition of carpets often represents the God in the center of the universe.
• There absolutely is no symbol of evil in the Armenian carpet weaving.
• Armenian carpets often depict dragons. Sometimes, however, there are carpets on which two dragons are fighting, a good one and a bad one. The branches of the Tree of Life are a symbol of victory for the good one.

ARMENIAN CARPETS TODAY

Unfortunately, the Armenian carpet gradually loses the importance it had before. Numerous museums which exhibit the Armenian rugs, call them “Caucasus”. Many people do not even think that these carpets are the works of a Christian nation rather than Muslim.

Armenian carpet depicting the Armenian Alphabet

“The first scientists who were interested in carpet weaving were taking their initial information from the cities which sold the carpets. These cities, however, were in Syria, Lebanon, Persia, Turkey, Arab countries, and so on. They called the carpets whatever name the city they purchased it from had. As a result, Armenian rugs were imprinted with non-Armenian names,” says Ashkhunj Poghosyan.

Today, mostly foreigners purchase Armenian carpets. The number of Armenian buyers is not high. Now the Armenians sell their old carpets instead of buying one. The square meter of a new carpet costs about one hundred dollars, and the old carpet – fifty dollars. As the saleswoman Nara explains, selling old carpets is not that easy, so often, people buy the newer carpets.

Pazuruk, the oldest carpet

By the way, Uldrich Sourman, a researcher of carpet weaving, assures that Armenians are the first carpet weavers. Also, the Urartians or the early Armenians are the creators of the oldest carpet in the world, called Pazuruk (5th century BC).

THE CARPET FESTIVAL

in Dilijan

Dilijan (Tavush region) is a very popular spa which has curative mineral springs. Forests and Alpine meadows cover the surrounding mountains. The climate is quite mild. Armenians believe that paradise most probably looks like Dilijan.

Dilijan

The Armenian carpet festival annually takes place here in Dilijan since it used to be a famous carpet-making industrial center in old times. The festival features masters from all regions of Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh. It usually takes place on the second Saturday of August.

Foreign carpet-makers can also participate. Apart from the traditional carpet exhibition and sales, guests will also have an opportunity to enjoy the masterpieces of Armenian applied art.

You will see handmade items and carpets from both Armenia and Karabakh at the festival. The aim of the festival is, in fact, to develop the social and economic life of Dilijan and to attract tourists. And, of course, to remind people the importance and the beauty of Armenian carpets.

The colors and the variety of ornaments of Armenian carpets will amaze you. The rich colors and unique patterns that carry Armenian culture and history, the whole love and energy of Armenian handmade crafts… That’s what makes the Dilijan carpets special.

There is also a show program related to the theme of the festival, as well as the national cuisine and handmade decorative works. The Karabakh Carpet Museum, the carpets of which have a history of millenniums, also make exhibitions.

In the end…

By visiting this mysterious city, you will not only feel the freshness of the trees and flowers, the charm and power of the historical and cultural monuments, but you will also have the opportunity to get acquainted with this branch of art, and, why not, bring these unique samples of handmade art to your home.

Article Carpet Festival is the first on iArmenia: Armenian History, Holidays, Sights, Events.

About the Fest

21 -23rd of September the Yerevan Food Fest is taking place in Armenia. The city will become a perfect place for gourmands. The fest will include different master classes and presentations.

Info for those, who are going to visit Armenia these days. Yerevan Food Fest will last three days. First two will be full of master classes and workshops for all interested in and for all professionals. To participate just visit “The LOFT”.

Participants and speakers

Lilit Arutyunyan

Among the speakers are leading professionals such as Anna Yelovikova (head of the association of North Caucasus restaurant and hotel-owners), Anna Dzyuba (popular gastro-blogger), Lilith Harutyunyan (owner of “Dolmaster” and the brand-chief), as well as journalists, restaurant-owners, and experts.

The final open space event of Yerevan Food Fest will take place at the English park in Yerevan. Here also everybody will have a chance to meet experts, chefs, field professionals, and gourmands. Chiefs of Salon Armenian, Dragon Garden, Crumbs and other popular restaurants will host master-classes and workshops. There will be representatives of Hans&Franz, Rafaello, Tsirani, Ingredient, Pub 37 and other restaurants.

30 restaurants will also take part of this event. They will represent not only their most popular dishes but also the special menu created for the fest. Dishes included in this menu will be cheaper than others with a special “festival” price.

Food blogger Anna Dzyuba, participant

At the park, besides of restaurants and workshops, you can find play-zone for children, musicians, photo-zone provided by Marashlyan PhotoStudio.

The message of “Yerevan Food Fest”

Yerevan Food Fest is a unique platform, where they can discuss problems and renovations of the industry, professional exchange and create new business contacts. The most important message of the fest is that Yerevan could become a perfect place for this kind of events, cultural exchanges. Above all, this might be a nice motivation for restaurants to be renovated and the gastro tourism to become more and more popular.

This is also a nice chance for tourists to taste typical Armenian dishes by new interpretations.

Specialist’s opinion

Anna Mazmanyan

Economics specialist, a consultant for hotel and restaurant business, food blogger and the head of “Food Fest” Anna Mazmanyan says Newsarmenia.am Armenia has a huge gastronomic potential.

“Our cuisine is a rich one, formed within hundreds of years. It is stated historically. Armenia has a huge potential, but we must use it in a right way. Unfortunately, nowadays Armenia does not have its own gastronomic product”, expert says.

She compares this situation with the kitchen when a woman, who has no practice in cooking, has fresh products, high-tech kitchen but she doesn’t know what to do with them. The same Armenia has almost no experience with gastro tourism management.

We don’t really imagine what gastro tourism is, Mazmanyan says. “Before we speak about this industry like about independent one, we have to work hard both on ourselves and with the public”.

We must be proud of the history of our cuisine, the diversity of products and ways of use. If we will use all this potential in a right way combining with gastro tourism, we can suggest interesting holidays to every tourist.

“Imagine tours, where they tell about the typical dishes of each region. And all this is mixed with legends and stories about each region. For example, French people systematized their national gastronomic potential, worked on it from the scientific point”, Mazmanyan says.

What can we improve

According to an expert, Armenian chiefs make many mistakes in making their gastronomical cuisine. “You can easily see they don’t have any basis. For example, take tolma, the truest national dish. You cannot serve it with small portions. This contradicts our nature. It would be more interesting to improve it changing or adding ingredients.

Anna Mazmanyan thinks the right way would be to improve products. “For example, the meat. The same could be with improving different kinds of butter. We need to think about putting parallels between the dishes and wines. This is another topic, but in gastronomical improved countries, this is also an important part”.

The market must understand, that if you don’t have good products, you don’t have a good restaurant. Our problem is that the customer doesn’t really understand which kind of products they serve him. He pays attention to the location of the restaurant and keeps going there. I hope, we will go over this evolution, Anna Mazmanyan says.

Article Yerevan Food Fest is the first on iArmenia: Armenian History, Holidays, Sights, Events.

Plot of “The Promise” Movie

The Promise is about a love in the time of Armenian Genocide. It is a love triangle between an Armenian medical student called Michael, Chris, a Paris-based American journalist, and Ana who is an Armenian-born woman raised in France.

First Part

A leading actor Michael (Oscar Isaac) is an apothecary. He lives in the small Armenian village, in the southeast part of the Ottoman Empire. He wants to study medicine so he promises himself to the daughter of an affluent neighborhood. For that, he receives 400 gold coins as a dowry. By this money, he travels to Constantinople and attends the Imperial Medical Academy.

In the medical school, Michael befriends a kind young boy named Emre. Emre is the son of a high-level Turkish official. In Constantinople, the leading actor meets his wealthy uncle. During his visit, he also meets there a young beautiful lady, Ana (Charlotte Le Bon). Ann is an Armenian woman raised in Paris. She is the dance teacher of Michael uncle daughters. Ana is the girlfriend of an American reporter called Chris Myers (Christian Bale).

The Promise

During his stay, Michael falls in love with Ana. And these feelings are mutual. Soon World War I begins. Michael temporarily manages to avoid enlistment for armed forces through a medical student exemption. So he avoids it only with the help of his friend Emre. Shortly afterward they put his uncle in jail. Michael tries to save him from imprisonment during the roundups of April 24, 1915. His efforts are in vain because they imprison him too and sent to a prison labor camp.

Second Part

Fortunately, Michael runs from the camp. He returns to his village. So he notices that Turks have violently turned on their Armenian fellow townspeople. Michael’s parents persuade him to marry a girl named Maral (Angela Sarafyan) with whom he was engaged. After marriage, they seek refuge in a remote mountain cabin. They live there and soon his wife Maral becomes pregnant. A pregnancy passes very hard so Mikael brings his wife back to his home where he takes care of her in the village. In the time of their arrival, Michael learns that Ana and Christopher are at a nearby Red Cross facility. Thus he goes to seek their help. He wanted them to help his family to escape the cruel Turkish people.

THE PROMISE

Michel finds Ana. Ana is too happy to see him as Michael’s mother lies her telling that Michael is dead. She cries a lot by seeing him but soon she learns that Michael is married and his wife is pregnant. Ana and his boyfriend gather a group of orphans, they want to take them away from the village. But when they know about Michael’s story they return back to Sirun village to retrieve Mikael’s family.

Labor Work in the Camp

Along the way, they meet a group of a massacre. Shortly afterward it becomes clear that the Turkish troops killed all of Sirun village’s inhabitants. Among the dead people, Michael also finds his family members including his pregnant wife. Turkish troops killed her too, they torn her uterus and killed the baby. Only Michael mother saved though she has many wounds.

Third Part

Christian Bale & Charlotte Le Bon

Soon Ottoman troops capture Chris and sent back to Constantinople. They charge Chris for being a spy and slated for execution by authorities. However, the government releases and allow departing for Malta. Chris only escapes from the execution with the help of Emre, and through the intercession of American Ambassador Henry Morgenthau. But when Chris boards the French cruiser Guichen, he convinces the captain to set sail along the Ottoman coast. Soon Turkish governments fusillade Emre for helping a reporter, Chris Myers to release from the prison.

The Promise

Mikael, Ana, and the orphans escape from pursuit. They join a large group of refugees determined to fight off the Ottoman army on Musa Dagh. Later the enemy attack on their place and Michael’s mother Marta succumbs to her wounds. Michael buries Marta (Shohreh Aghdashloo)on the mountain. Soon the Guichen comes to their rescue. The refugees hold on long enough to escape on the back side to the coast. When they return to the ship, a Turkish artillery bombardment throws Ana and Yeva. Yeva is the young daughter of Michael’s uncle. Seeing this Michael jumps into the water after them. Michael only is able to rescue Yeva. And Ann drowns in the sea.

Charlotte Le Bon & Oscar Isaac

When Michael is already on the ship with Yeva, Chris Myers asks Michael where is Ana. Michael starts crying so Chris understands that she died and cries too. These two men lost a woman whom they love. As the movie goes on, Michael tells that he adopted Yeva. Together they settled in Watertown, Massachusetts. in 1942 Yeva gets married. In the wedding, there are Armenian orphans who have now grown up. Michael presides over a toast. He wishes good fortune to their families and the generations to come.

Cast

• Oscar Isaac – Mikael
• Charlotte Le Bon – Ana
• Christian Bale – Chris Myers
• Daniel Giménez-Cacho – Father Andreasian
• Shohreh Aghdashloo – Marta
• Rade Šerbedžija – Stephan
• Abel Folk – Harut
• Andrew Tarbet – Pastor Merril
• Angela Sarafyan – Maral
• Armin Amiri – Captain Ali

Production & Release

The Promise movie story was based on an unproduced screenplay. The Screenplay titled Anatolia by Robin Swicord. However, Terry George completely rewrote the screenplay. Swicord told Terry kept the half of the story.

The Promise

Terry invented the Christian Bale character. He also changed the other characters. Swicord had a medical student in his screenplay, but he was different from the one in The Promise.The shooting of the movie began in autumn 2015. They do filming in Portugal, Malta, and Spain. The team did reshoots took in New York in May and June 2016.

The Promise

American businessman of Armenian origin Kirk Kerkorian donated the total budget of “the Promise” movie. Serj Tankian is the author of the soundtrack for the Armenian Genocide themed movie “The Promise”. The performer of this song is Serj’s friend, a famous musician, and singer, Chris Cornell.

The premiere of “The Promise” was at the 2016 Toronto International Film Festival on September 2016. Shortly after, Open Road Films acquired distribution rights to the film. It set a release date, which was April 21, 2017.

The Real History to Know Before Watching “The Promise”

The movie is the dramatization of a story that takes place amid the slaughter of Armenian citizens by the Ottoman Empire coincides with the annual day of remembrance in Armenia on April 24.

The Ottoman government ruled by “Three Pashas,” They made a plan to eliminate the Armenian population. According to The University of Minnesota’s Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies, there were about 2.1 million Armenians living in the Ottoman Empire in 1914. In 1915, hundreds of Armenian intellectuals were arrested. Thus they deported 235 Armenian intellectuals and community leaders. The majority of these people were murdered. But it was only the start of what’s widely known as the Armenian genocide or Armenian Holocaust.

During the Genocide Ottoman government killed 1.5 million Armenians. The Armenian genocide was made during and after World War I. In fact, it had two phases. Thus in the first phase, they did the wholesale killing of the able-bodied male population by subjection of army conscripts to forced labor. In the second stage, they deported women, children into the Syrian Desert where they were subjected to periodic robbery, torture, massacre or rape. So they were deprived of food and water.

The Motives of The Genocide by Historians and its Recognition

According to historians, the governments targeted genocidal policy, particularly to Christian ethnic groups.Thus most Armenian Diaspora communities around the world came into being as a get the direct result of the genocide. After the Holocaust Armenian Genocide was the second most-studied case of genocide. Scholars mention that it was one of the first modern genocides. So they did it in an organized manner during which Ottoman government eliminated the Armenians.

Years later, after World War II, 1950 in the Soviet Union they allowed people to speak about Genocide. Thus many memorials, paintings, movies, and plays were created about Armenian Genocide.

Up to the present time, Armenian people try to get Turkey and other countries around the world — to recognize the massive killings of Armenian citizens as genocide. But the other part says that these mass killings took place amid a larger World War I context, that’s why they can’t qualify it as genocide. Thus the descendants of the Ottoman Empire, Turkish people deny this story and renounce genocide as an accurate term. Up to the present day, 29 countries and 47 U.S. states have officially recognized those mass killings as genocide.

The Hash Tag of the Movie

One of the goals of “The Promise” movie is to support human rights by helping educate young people about genocide. They want all learn from the past in order to avoid repeating the same mistakes because without acknowledging the truth, history is doomed to repeat itself. Kirk Kerkorian donated a budget for the movie with the hope that it would open people’s eyes to a forgotten, yet crucially important, piece of history. So for continuing that mission, you must share the hash tag #KeepThePromise with your friends! Many Famous people like George Clooney, Jennifer Lopez, Terry George, Christian Bale, Chris Cornell, Barbara Streisand, Serj Tankian, Kim Kardashian, Gavin Newsom, Oscar Isaac, Ryan Gosling, Cher, Arsinee Khanjian, Atom Egoyan, Elton John, Dean Cain, Samantha Power, Heidi Klum and others already did it.

You can create a Hash Tag right now by writing I vow to #KeepThePromise.

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. – William Saroyan –

What we all must do is to Remember, Remand and Vow to Keep The Promise!

Article The Promise is the first on iArmenia: Armenian History, Holidays, Sights, Events.

Yerevan Color Run 2017

During the Color Run Event, thousands of runners wear white T-shirt. All the participants get covered in a cloud of color powder. The powder colors the runners from head to toe. The color powder is thrown in the air. It makes every runner look like a walking rainbow.

 Color Run 

The USA founded The Color Run in 2011. This event promotes healthiness, happiness, and individuality. People also call it “Happiest 5k on the Planet”! It initiates a completely new genre of fitness events. Obviously, this event has taken the world over by a great big rainbow storm. Color Run holds in more than 50 countries.

Yerevan Color Run 2017

As it was mentioned above,  the Color Run made its Armenian debut in August 2015 in Yerevan. The participants run 3 kilometers. Since then every year the organizers look for new ways to spread happiness to as many Armenians as possible.

International growth

In 2017, 112 color run events held in the US, 7 in the UK, 6 in Australia, 4 in China and so forth. Year by year it became more and more popular event in the world.

After the creation of Color Run event, hundreds of similar color-themed events were launched throughout the World. In fact, over 70% of the participants of the events are at the ages 18–40. In 2013.

The runners pass through 5 color stations. The organizers connected each station with different colors. Most of the events are typically celebrations featuring a concert, dance party, and food vendors. The Color Run is the largest running event in the world.

Safety concerns

Color Powder

In 2015 as a result of colored cornstarch powder, a serious outdoors dust explosion happened in Taiwan. During these explosions many runners get hurt. Explosions injured 500 participants and caused 15 deaths. This brought public attention to the possible health and safety dangers of airborne powders. Under such circumstances, the Taiwanese banned events involving combustible colored powder.

This brought public attention to the possible health and safety dangers of airborne powders. Under such circumstances, the Taiwanese banned events involving combustible colored powder.

Shortly afterward the Singapore Civil Defence Force started to assess all safety aspects associated with the use of colored powder. Only after the approval, they let the events to take place. Thus proceeding from safety concerns, Shanghai canceled Color Run in 2015. The organizers gave refunds to all participants.

Hong Kong canceled two Color Run events and then banned its use in the country in 2015. Only after a year, it lets IMG to host 5 events.

The organizers plan the Yerevan Color Run event on three core beliefs:

Three Core Beliefs

1. Healthiness – Though this series of events are meant for having fun, but the organizers also want to help and encourage participates to lead a healthier lifestyle. Thus you can have a good time alongside promoting your health physically and mentally.
2. Happiness – As a matter of facts these events gives happiness. You put many smiles on people’s faces that look at you. It is really the greatest achievement of the organizers. The pursuit of creating happiness drives the team every day. So if you’ve never been in Yerevan Color Run events join to the next one, as it impossible to express the joy that this event gives.
3. Individuality – Never before and never again through ages to come there will never be anybody exactly like you again. So what the people need to do is to produce their best, their potential. Every one of us has its own story to tell. The team believes you, they believe your individuality.

Yerevan Color Run 2015

Armenians hosted the first Yerevan Color Run event in 2015. The organizer of Yerevan Color Run event, ”Run Armenia” Company cooperated with ”Spring PR ” Company which supported them with Mass media relations, media documents creation, organization, event management and evaluation.

Yerevan Color Run

In the early morning, the participants gather near Karen Demirchyan Complex. This kind of run requires no age and Sports skills. The participants only did fitness training to flex their muscles and be ready for the start.

During the Run, the runners were covered with safe and colorful powder.  So in the end, they recognized neither their friends nor even themselves.

The participants should run 5k, but because of weather condition, the organizers announced that because of hot weather the runners only need to run 3k.

The team of organizers gave the money of the membership to “Hay Mayrer” (“Armenian Mothers”) Charitable Non-Governmental Organization. The organizers finished events with fireworks and disco.

Yerevan Color Run 2016

Yerevan Color Run

In July 2016 Armenia’s capital city Yerevan hosted the second “Yerevan Color Run” event. The Initiator of the event was Kazar Hakobyan.

1500 people participated in Yerevan Color Run 2016. Color Run is one of the most important summer events across the globe. Some famous Armenian singers have joined the initiative.

As a matter of facts, the participants have registered themselves many days earlier near Karen Demirchyan Sport and Concert Complex. In 2016 Yerevan Color Run, the participants run 5km paint race. It started at 9:00 am.

Before the start, the runners did half-hour warm-up. On the way, the participants showered each other with colored powder, made of food-grade corn starch.

Yerevan Color Run Participants

In 2016 Yerevan Color Run involved not only residents of Yerevan, but also people from regions of Armenia, Karabakh and numerous tourists.

This year also Ameriabank was the general sponsor of the event. Thus Yerevan Color Run 2016 supported healthiness and happiness and increased interest in sports.

Though in general, the event is not competitive but the winners of Yerevan Color Run 2016, three girls and three boys received prizes from the bank. The organizers gave the money from the event to charity, for families left homeless after the Gyumri earthquake.

Yerevan Color Run 2017

Yerevan Color Run 2017

In 2017  Yerevan Color Run took place in the heart of Yerevan, at the Republic Square.

The organizers prepared a lot of surprises for the participants. Thus the team created a magic atmosphere of the party.

Yerevan Color Run is one of the happiest five kilometers of Armenians. In fact, it is a marathon and a party that requires no fitness level.

As a matter of facts, Color Run usually takes place in summer, particularly in July. People organized many other similar colorful events in their countries.

In Yerevan Color Run 2017 clouds of colorful smoke were twirling in the air in the center of the city since the morning. Among the participants, there were thousands of Armenians, tourists and students from China, Korea, Russia, India, United Arab Emirates and Iran.

Yerevan Color Run 2017

The participants of marathon did pre-run fitness exercises in the morning. After the training, they ran a 5-km race. During the race, the runners colored each other with safe, eco-friendly powder paints of different colors.

Yerevan Color Run 2017

The money from the membership of Yerevan Color Run was given for the construction of a Street Workout area in Yerevan. It will let the people attend the training for free-of-charge.

Yerevan Color Run 2017

Thus the organizers gave the rest of the money for the construction of a 34-km section of the Yerevan-Berd highway. The membership fee consisted of less than 9USD.

After the event, the organizers gave prizes to three guys and ladies who finished the marathon first. Obviously, the marathon finished with an incredible Festival, music, and party.

Winners and the Music Program

The runners began running from Republic square along Vazgen Sargsyan, Italy, Beirut, Amiryan streets, Mashtots avenue then along Isahakyan, Nalbandyan streets to Republic square. The organizers finished with a firework of paints and a disco. As a matter of facts, the runners were from ages 14 to 55. There were also parents that came with their parents.

Here is the list of the Winners of Yerevan Color Run 2017

The Winners of Yerevan Color Run 2017

DJ Guevo

Sarah, the winner told that she participated in such events. She was the first time in Armenia. Sarah liked the country, people, atmosphere, and colors.

The winner came to Armenia by the advice of her friends who also came to Yerevan to participate in Yerevan Color Run 2016.

There were many gifts for the winners. The Sponsors prepared interesting prizes and the State Committee for Tourism gave two first place winners, a boy, and a young lady a package of extreme tourism in Armenia.

Yerevan Color Run 2017 finished with a fantastic music program. There were two famous Armenian DJs, Guevo and Shant.

Sevak Khanagyan

The singer of the Music program was Sevak Khanagyan who is the winner of the X Factor of Ukraine. In the beginning, he refused to be colored but then the participants could color him with colorful powders.

Information about Upcoming Events

Yerevan Color Run 2017

If you are want to lead an active life, be healthy and happy then this series of events are just for you.

So follow the news to know when the next color runs will hold in Armenia.

You can learn about upcoming events from Tomsarkgh.am, Toms.am, Tomser.am or simply from social networks.

But if there are no upcoming Color Run events then no worries as if you search Armenian events, you should certainly find other interesting events connected to colors namely, Color Party, Colorful Bubble Party and such others.

Anxiety, sadness, stress and depression impact people’s physical health. These emotions trigger chemical reactions and lead to inflammation and a weakened immune system. So take part in such kind of fantastic events and enjoy the glow of good health by being happy.

Article Yerevan Color Run is the first on iArmenia: Armenian History, Holidays, Sights, Events.

Sevan Startup Summit 2016

The first event of SSS occurred in 2016. The preparations for the Summit lasted more than 2 months. Organizers did a huge work to prepare the territory and attract potential investors. In 2016 there were 102 applicants and only 35 startups and startupers were selected. On 18 August the buses moved to Lake Sevan. There were battles for teams where the winners would get a prize.

So, on August 21, the 10 best teams participated in the first Startup battle. The winner was Skycriptor team which received $5,000.
On August 23, the 2nd Startup battle took place. The Energy Globe team outran 25 other seed startups by receiving a prize of $2,500. In addition to the Startup battles, individual investors made a contribution of $30,000 to the prize fund.

Interesting speeches were made by more than 20 speakers and 3 business trainers who presented the entire cycle of how an idea can be transformed into a successful working business.

Foundation

The head organizer of the Summit is the Startup Armenia Foundation. A group of young people, who previously succeeded in a number of startups, founded the Startup Armenia in March 2016. The foundation aims to help new business ideas to develop, organize events where startupers will have an opportunity to show their projects and get support from the foundation. In Startup Armenia site they write about their aims in details:

• To support novice and the ones who already passed a certain way, help them to stand up, to put in a right way of development
• Periodically organize events, where startupers will have an opportunity to present their projects and get support from the foundation.
• Invite experts and speakers from abroad, who will help startupers to improve their skills and use them in their own projects, and they can imagine steps for entering the market
• Create an environment where the authors of different projects will meet with local and foreign investors, employers and other business representatives and with the help of them, they will have an opportunity to acquire investment for their own idea.
• Organize and implement educational and startup projects and events both in Armenia and in abroad.
• Promote innovative thinking, innovative business development in the Republic of Armenia.

Founders

As it was mentioned above founders are a group of successful young people. who created this event. Below are some of them:

Founder, Director Hakob Hakobyan

Hakob Hakobyan

Here is the founder of Startup Armenia. Hakob Hakobyan in his Linkedin account writes:

“I’m looking back through a year of Startup Armenia Foundation activities and feeling proud of my team!”

And it’s obvious that Startup Armenia is going to be more successful in the future. From one of his interviews, we learn about the Foundation in details.

“Sevan Startup Summit actually started in 2009. From 2009 our team organizes educational forums in a camp format, and, I can say, Sevan Startup Summit is the logical continuation of those forums. Those forums have mainly had an aim of connecting the young people, bringing around patriotic concepts. And from the experience of the years, we understood, when Armenian young people are gathered and live in this environment, in case, we make the main purpose come true.”

Tigran Petrosyan
Director of Startup Armenia Foundation

Tigran Petrosyan

Tigran Petrosyan is the director of Startup Armenia Foundation.  Here is what he says about Startup Armenia Foundation in his Linkedin account:

“We decided to create the Startup Armenia Foundation, which seeks to break stereotypes in education and the business sector, by giving young people the opportunity to launch and develop a more efficient and up to date activities.”

In “Bari Luys Hayer” TV program given interview Tigran Petrosyan says:

“When we organized educational forums in Sevan National Park every year till now. During the forums, the president and prime minister visited us. Some startup projects were created, which later became business projects and now they are working in Armenia. As an example, I can say prokat.am ”

Vahag Rapyan
General Manager

Vahag Rapyan

The general manager of SSS is Vahag Rapyan. In the interview given to the “Bari Luys Hayer” TV program he says:

“There is the “Angel Face Investment” concept in the base of the format. In this case, the investor searches for a startup project and wants to invest. ”

Arsen Harutyunyan
CEO, Board Member

Arsen Harutyunyan

Arsen Harutyunyan in his Linkedin account writes:
I collect new program packages and present to the Board for approval. During the Summit I also coordinate the activities related to food and economic assurance by ensuring that all participants of the camp.

Avag Simonyan

Avag Simonyan
Co Founder of SSS

Hayk Khloyan

Hayk Khloyan
Co-founder

Marine Paytyan

Marine Paytyan
President of Startup Woman Armenia

SEVAN STARTUP SUMMIT 2017

“This year’s summit is designed to help you on the next step to success. You will have the opportunity to create your network, enrich your knowledge and skills, get the necessary financial means and just have a good time at lake’s shore.”

This is how in sss.am they describe the Startup Summit 2017.

The Format of SSS

Before camping, there is a lot of work that organizers do.

Thousands of people send their business plans but only some of them pass to the main stage. There are several battles designed for participants to show off their idea, compete and get prizes.

2-minute pitch and 4 minutes Q&A. Later 6 teams are selected and grouped into 3 couples. Every team from each couple has 3 minutes for asking questions to the opponent. Later the jury has 3 minutes for Q&A.

As Gevorg Poghosyan(the director of global.am ) mentioned in his interview, there are 3 types of teams: seed stage startups ( who has idea but no product), early stage startups ( who have product, web site, but they are newbie in market) and business stage startups (organizations who want to be extended). They divide teams according to their stages and organize the event for each of the group.

Early stage and seed stage startups take part in competitions. There are different prizes for them. Business stage startups present their ideas to investors in fire pitch format. They show how much money they need for the project.

Organizers

For more follow the link.

Article Sevan Startup Summit is the first on iArmenia: Armenian History, Holidays, Sights, Events.

People frequently associate various nations or countries with certain foods. For example, many people associate Italy with pizza and pasta.

For Armenia, the one of a kind Dolma or Tolma is symbolic, so it’s most likely associated with this delicious food. This is the reason why in Armenia a festival dedicated to it takes place every year.

What is Dolma?

(or Tolma)

Dolma is a traditional Armenian non-vegetarian dish made of ground beef, mixed with rice and spices folded in grape or cabbage leaves, and vegetables.

Dolma with grape leaves is the more sophisticated one. The ones with cabbage and eggplant are called “summer Dolma”.

According to historians, the first Armenian Dolma was introduced in Sardarapat town around 3000 years ago.

Dolma is a very popular traditional Armenian dish. Armenians most of the times prepare it for some festive tables such as the New Year. They also prepare it just for special guests. In different parts of Armenia, people cook dolma differently, like people from Ashtarak and Echmiatsin make dolma with lamb. Additionally, In Ashtarak, they often make dolma by stuffing apple and quince.

Other than “summer” dolma, there are also “pasuts” dolma and “sut” dolma.

Pasuts dolma is a vegetarian dish served for fasting. There is no meat in this kind of dolma. Instead, it includes beans, various peas, rice, lots of spices stuffed in sour cabbage. Usually, Pasuts dolma is comparatively large. Furthermore, most of the times one dolma is enough to satisfy one’s hunger.

Sut (means “fake” in Armenian) dolma is made of rice, oil, and spices. It looks like real grape leaves dolma, but there is no meat, hence the name “fake”.  Just like all kinds of dolma, this one is also very tasty, and although it takes relatively a long time to prepare, one eats it really quickly.

Usually, Armenians serve the actual grape leave dolma with garlic and matsoun (the national sour yogurt).

Dolma is not only delicious but also has a unique taste because of the different ingredients added to the meat. This includes rice, onions, greens and salt and pepper. Sometimes it can contain parsley, oregano, mint, coriander and so on. It depends on one’s preference.

Just biting a small piece of dolma will leave you with the deep taste of meat juice. Especially for meat lovers, this is undoubtedly one of the best dishes you can ever try.

Dolma is also a big part of the Armenian culture, so Armenian people really love it. It definitely has a heavenly taste!

Since you already know what dolma is and how delicious it actually is, let’s talk about the festival!

Note that in the end, we will provide you with the recipe for this marvelous dish and also some more additional information!

About Dolma Festival

In 2011 it was decided to organize a festival, which would be devoted to dolma. Now you see how much Armenians actually like dolma, right?

The aim of the festival, however, is not only introducing the dolma but also, the traditional Armenian meals the cuisine overall.

Since then, the festival called Pan-Armenian Dolma Festival takes place each year in various regions of the country.

The festival starts with a performance by the Sardarapat Dance Ensemble. During the festival, different cooks introduce their varieties of dolma and the jury decides the best dolma cook in the participants of leading restaurants of Armenia. Individuals from Yerevan and other regions also take part.

On May 21, the festival took place in Musa Ler town in Armenia. Participants from various parts of Armenia presented Dolma which had various tastes like the sweet Dolma with a tasty filling made from ostrich eggs.

The dish is usually served in ceramic dishes.

Participants competed in three nominations: Best Taste, Best Appearance, and Best Idea.

In the nomination for the Best Taste, the Bronze medal or the third place went to “Delicious Point” team. The Silver won the Restaurant Complex “Naberejny”, the gold medal went to the “Hay Rest” Restaurant.

In the nomination Best Appearance, the Bronze medal won “Bayazet” Company. The Silver medal went to “Ararat Hall” Restaurant and the gold medal to the“Delicious Point” (first place).

For the nomination Best Idea the Bronze medal won the “Hay Rest” Restaurant. The Silver medal went to the Company “Bayazet” and the “Delicious Point” took the gold medal.

Furthermore, cups for the Sympathy of Beholders, Youngest Pavilion, Best Participation were also present. The team presenting non-traditional (such as sweet) dolma made with ostrich eggs and meat won the Special Cup award.

In addition, there was also the main prize. As the jury stated, the team that would win the main prize, would not participate in the other nominations. In the end, “Karas” company got the main prize.

“Art Laj” presented the longest Dolma in the competition which was worth 23 meters-long.

At the end of the Festival, the organizers awarded “Thank You” notes to each team that participated in the festival.

This festival is one of the culinary festivals that takes place annually in Armenia. For example, there is also a Bread Festival which takes place in June, also, Barbeque and Harissa Festivals take place in September. Hence, you should definitely visit Armenia and enjoy the infinite culinary delights.

The festival is organized within “Golden Apricot” international film festival. As already stated above, the purpose of the event is the introduction of the traditional Armenian dishes. The festival is held to preserve Armenian cuisine, which is surely one of the Armenian intangible values. Another purpose, however, is to represent dolma as a national Armenian dish, disproving the false opinion, that it has Turkish origins.

And…  here is the recipe of the delicious Dolma!

Recipe of Dolma

ingredients:

• Cabbage – 1 Large Head – Blanched
• Ground Beef – 1 Pound
• Round Grain Rice – 1 Cup
• Parsley – 4 Tablespoon
• All Spice – 1 1/2 Teaspoon
• Black Pepper – 1 Teaspoon
• Dry Mint – 1 Tablespoon
• Garlic – 2 Head whole Cloves
• Garlic – 3 to 4 Clove – Crushed
• Paprika – 1 Tablespoon
• Onion – 1 Count – Finely Chopped
• Tomato Sauce – 1 Can (15 Ounce)
• Lemon Juice – 2 Whole Lemon or Lime Juice

instructions:

1. In a big pot, add 3 cups of water and boil. Peel the cabbage leaves and place some of them carefully into the boiling water and press down with a spoon. Blanching takes about a minute per batch. Remove with a slotted spoon. Repeat the same with the rest of the cabbage.
2. In a bowl, place the ground beef, parsley, mint, rice, paprika, allspice, black pepper, crushed garlic, tomato sauce, lemon juice, salt to taste. Mix together well.
3. Take each cabbage leaf and place a tablespoon of stuffing. Then fold the two sides inward and roll until one end reaches the other.
4. In a pot, place each roll so that doesn’t unravel. For each layer sprinkle with a little salt and several cloves of garlic. Until you finish with all the stuffing and cabbage. Pour water until it reaches the top of the cabbage rolls.
5. Place a heat resistant plate or kitchen weight, cover the pot with its lid.
6. Cook on medium heat for about 40 minutes. Check to see if the rice is cooked, and also use a fork to see if the cabbage is very tender, which means that dolma is ready.

Summer Dolma

There is also another recipe for making dolma, which is usually for the summer. In this case, vegetables replace the grape leaves.

Additional Information

Places to eat the tasty Dolma

In Yerevan, the capital city of Armenia, you can eat tasty dolma nearly in every corner. Furthermore, almost all restaurants offering national Armenian dishes have dolma on their menu.

Now, 3 popular places are the main recommendations for you to taste dolma when you visit Yerevan.

Article Dolma Festival is the first on iArmenia: Armenian History, Holidays, Sights, Events.

Vardavar in Armenia

If you are a foreigner and you are planning to visit Armenia in summer then be ready for the situation when you walk along the street and a group of children or teenagers run to you and pour pails of water over you. This is the festival of  Vardavar.

Yes, it may sound weird if you don’t know the meaning of this tradition.

So, where does it come from? Why do Armenians call it Vardavar and how they celebrate? All the answers are below.

Goddess Astghik

Vardavar’s history dates back to the pagan times. Armenians believed in many gods before adopting Christianity. Astghik was the goddess of water, beauty, love, and fertility. The celebrations of the religious observance of Astghik people named “Vartavar”. In Armenian vart (vard) means “rose” and var means “rise”. Astghik was pouring roses over the people spreading the love.

Though Armenians adopted Christianity they kept the tradition associating it with Jesus Christ. They celebrate it now as a holiday devoted to the event of Jesus Christ’s transfiguration when he appeared to his disciples on the Mount Tabor.

Noah

Some specialists relate the Vardavar to the Flood and Noah’s descent from the Ark. According to the tradition, when Noah finds his refuge on Mount Ararat during the Flood, he orders his sons to pour water over each other for the memory of the Flood.

In ancient times people were gathering the wheat-ears in the fields and took them to the church for a blessing to keep the fields away from damages.

The most important traditions of Vardavar was the ceremony of making doves fly. They were flying in the sky and admiring people.

After Adopting Christianity

As you have already known another remarkable tradition was pouring water over each other which is preserved till our times.

So, after adopting Christianity Armenians celebrate Vardavar 14 weeks after Easter. On the day people decorate their houses with branches or bright roses. They present each other with flowers and garlands. People are in the habit of celebrating this holiday in the countryside near the rivers, lakes or waterfalls, or just nearer park. They play different games.

When the day comes (even few days before the celebration) all the people, especially children, and teenagers come out of their houses and start pouring cold water over each other or people at outside.

Wherever you go in Armenia you won’t be able to avoid of being wet. It’s believed that water of Vardavar is sanctified. So most of the people want to get watered. But some others can even get angry at children and teenagers. However, no one can escape of water because that is the “symbol” of Vardavar.

Vardavar in Christianity

Armenian Apostolic Church celebrates as Transfiguration of Jesus Christ. By the way, only Armenian Church calls the celebration the Feast of Transfiguration. And the real story is, that before all of his torturings Jesus showed to disciples his honor, so that, when he was crossed, they wouldn’t weaken.

The Fest of Transfiguration our ancestors called Vardavar. Christians relate the celebration to Hovhannes Mkrtich who christened Jesus Christ with water.

How do Armenians Celebrate It Nowadays?

As you already know Armenians love this festival and they celebrate in the best way. One day before Vardavar you should be careful so that people don’t water you suddenly. Children hide and when buses come they pour water and run away. But this is not all, people pour water even from balconies. When you listen about this it’s quite funny, but if you are the person on the bus or in street, moreover you are going to an important meeting you’ll get angry. Anyways if you find yourself in such situation just put off your anger and remember the long history of Vardavar.

But instead of avoiding of water I advise you to celebrate it in a great way. Here are some places you can go and enjoy your Vardavar.

Garni

Garni pagan temple is the original place of celebrating Vardavar as the festival comes from pagan times. People come from all over the world and, of course, from Armenia to take part in this festival. During celebration their regional exhibitions near the entrance of the temple.

Playin, dancing, performing national songs and watering each other: this is how passes the Vardavar in Garni.

Yerevan

This year watering machines were pouring water on the streets and so welcoming the festival.

The Swan Lake

Every year on Vardavar people, young and old, gather in the Swan Lake because the biggest festival holds on here. There is music and good environment, no ticket or registration you need for participation.

Tumo Park

The next best place of Vardavar festival is Tumo Park. It’s located on Halabyan street. Here mostly children come. Like Swan Lake in Tumo Park, there is DJ and many games teenagers and children play. It’s interesting that every year organizers change the program because they want to do their best to make Vardavar festival memorable.

Article Vardavar is the first on iArmenia: Armenian History, Holidays, Sights, Events.

Based on Italy’s Sanremo Music Festival, the contest was to test the limits of live television broadcast technology.

Each country from Europe represents their singers who perform an original song on live television and radio. Then, every country casts vote for the other countries’ songs, to decide which song is the most popular in the contest.

  Armenia in Eurovision Song Contest

Armenia has taken part in the Eurovision Song Contest starting from 2006.

Till 2017 Armenia participated in the contest 11 times and has reached to the top 10 seven times.
Armenia’s debut at the Eurovision Song Contest was in 2006. The debut song was “Without your love” and the singer performing the song was Andre.

It was the first time that Armenia participated in the contest. Andre was the first performer of the semi-finals. That song achieved 8th place and was a successful debut for Armenia.

Armenia accomplished 4th place in the contest twice, which is the best result so far. For the first time, it was Sirusho who took the 4th place in 2008 with the song “Qele Qele”. Later in 2014, the song “Not Alone” by Aram Mp3 took the 4th place as well.

2011 was the only year when Armenia did not qualify for the semi-final.

In 2012, Armenia withdrew from the contest due to security concerns.

Armenia didn’t need to compete in the semi-final because they already reached the top ten in the final of the 2007 Eurovision Song Contest. Then they automatically reached the final on 12 May performing 23rd of the 24 finalists and came 8th again.

Since the introduction of the semi-finals, Armenia has always been in the top ten. The only exception was in 2011 when Emmy failed to qualify from the first semi-final. She failed only by one point.

Despite the 2012 withdrawal, Armenia participated in the contest the following year, in 2013. The contest was held in Sweden.

Aram MP3 represented Armenia in the contest with  ”Not Alone” in 2014.

He took the 4th place and it was the second time after Sirusho when Armenia reached the top 5 after 4 years. This is the best result achieved by Armenia in Eurovision song contest.

Every year Armenia presents unique songs. The singers are chosen very deliberately. Their powerful voices and professionalism, their behavior and artists on the stage and many other things get taken into consideration.

List of all performances of Armenia in Eurovision from 2006 to 2017

• In 2006 Armenia participated with the song “Without Your Love” by Andre. Having collected 129 points in the final, he took 8th place.

• In 2007 Hayko presented Armenia with the song “Anytime You Need”. 138 points in the final brought him the 8th place.

• As stated above, Sirusho represented Armenia in 2008 with the song  ‘Qele Qele’ and took the 4th place, the best result of Armenia since the beginning. She got 199 points.

• The song “Jan Jan” performed by Inga and Anush in 2009 collected 92 points in the final. they took 10th place. In their performance, they wore Armenian national dress called ”Taraz”.

• In 2010 Eva Rivas presented Armenia in Eurovision song contest with the song “Apricot Stone”. With 141 points, she took 7th place.

• 2011 was the year when Armenian singer Emmy failed  the first semifinal by only one point. The song is “Boom Boom”.

• Armenian famous band called Dorians presented Armenia in 2013  with the song ‘’Lonely Planet”. They took the 18th place with 41 points.

• Along with Sirusho, the other song that achieved the 4th place was “Not Alone”  by Aram MP3 in 2014. 174 points brought him one of the best results for Armenia.

• In 2015  Genealogy presented Armenia with the song ‘’Face The Shadow’’.

Genealogy consists of Armenians representing the five continents (Africa, Asia, Americas, Europe,            Oceania). One is from Armenia as well.

Each of the five Armenian diaspora artists symbolizes the five petals of the forget-not-me flower. In their center, the sixth artist, who is from Armenia unifies the group.

With 34 points they took the 16th place.

• Iveta Mukuchyan with her song “Love Wave” participated in Eurovision in 2016 and took the 7th place with 249 points.

•  Artsvik presented Armenia in Eurovision with the song “Fly With Me” in 2017. She took the 18th place with 79 points.

Article Armenia in Eurovision is the first on iArmenia: Armenian History, Holidays, Sights, Events.