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Wisconsin State Journal (Madison, Wisconsin)
December 5, 2004 Sunday
ALL EDITION
IN RACINE, IT'S `MERRY FEAST OF SAINT STEPHEN';
AN ARMENIAN-AMERICAN TRADITIONS PROGRAM AT THE RACINE HERITAGE MUSEUM
LETS VISITORS LEARN ABOUT THE CHANGING HOLIDAY.
by Phyllis Sides Racine Journal Times
The Racine Heritage Museum has a Christmas gift for the community in
its Armenian-American Traditions program this afternoon.
Not everyone celebrates Christmas and New Year's Day the same way,
archivist Dick Ammann said.
The program is an opportunity to discover some of the unique and
changing holiday traditions among Racine's Armenian-American
residents.
Visitors can discover the stories of the Feast of Saint Stephen and
the New Year's Father as well as stories of special traditional
foods, music and other practices, and learn how these practices have
changed over time, adapting and adopting some American holiday
customs.
Charles Hardy, the archdeacon at St. Mesrob Armenian Apostolic
Church, is one of the presenters. Hardy will speak about the
religious traditions of the season.
"At one time, the whole Christian world celebrated Christmas on the
same day, Jan. 6," Hardy said. "But the Western Church changed to
Dec. 25 to draw attention away from paganism. They changed it because
many of the Roman Christians still celebrated a feast called the
Saturnalia around that date," Hardy said. The Saturnalia was a feast
that focused on the light and energy of the sun. The move was an
attempt to sanctify the date.
However, in Armenia the conflict didn't exist and Christmas continued
to be celebrated on Jan. 6, Hardy said, although today Armenians in
the west exchange gifts on Dec. 25, too.
Armenians also celebrate Jesus' baptism on Jan. 6, Hardy said. In the
Armenian church, the Epiphany commemorates Jesus' baptism.
The program will be divided into four parts. Dr. Levon Saryan will
speak about Armenian music and cultural traditions. Mary Buchaklian
will talk about food and Julie Der Garabedian will talk about
Armenian New Year's customs and traditions.
Armenians celebrate New Year's Day on Jan. 1, and traditionally it's
the day Santa Claus would come for the children, Der Garabedian said,
giving out small gifts and little bags of fruit and nuts.
This free program is in conjunction with the museum's exhibit
focusing on State Street as a gateway neighborhood and the Armenian
Americans who called the neighborhood home. It is part of the
Heritage Museum's ongoing Conversations Series.
GRAPHIC: Mark Hertzberg - Racine Journal Times Charles Hardy, the
archdeacon of St. Mesrob Armenian Apostolic Church, helped organize a
display about Racine's Armenian heritage at the Racine Heritage
Museum. It includes a showcase of religious items, including a crown
worn by the celebrant during the Divine Liturgy.
December 5, 2004 Sunday
ALL EDITION
IN RACINE, IT'S `MERRY FEAST OF SAINT STEPHEN';
AN ARMENIAN-AMERICAN TRADITIONS PROGRAM AT THE RACINE HERITAGE MUSEUM
LETS VISITORS LEARN ABOUT THE CHANGING HOLIDAY.
by Phyllis Sides Racine Journal Times
The Racine Heritage Museum has a Christmas gift for the community in
its Armenian-American Traditions program this afternoon.
Not everyone celebrates Christmas and New Year's Day the same way,
archivist Dick Ammann said.
The program is an opportunity to discover some of the unique and
changing holiday traditions among Racine's Armenian-American
residents.
Visitors can discover the stories of the Feast of Saint Stephen and
the New Year's Father as well as stories of special traditional
foods, music and other practices, and learn how these practices have
changed over time, adapting and adopting some American holiday
customs.
Charles Hardy, the archdeacon at St. Mesrob Armenian Apostolic
Church, is one of the presenters. Hardy will speak about the
religious traditions of the season.
"At one time, the whole Christian world celebrated Christmas on the
same day, Jan. 6," Hardy said. "But the Western Church changed to
Dec. 25 to draw attention away from paganism. They changed it because
many of the Roman Christians still celebrated a feast called the
Saturnalia around that date," Hardy said. The Saturnalia was a feast
that focused on the light and energy of the sun. The move was an
attempt to sanctify the date.
However, in Armenia the conflict didn't exist and Christmas continued
to be celebrated on Jan. 6, Hardy said, although today Armenians in
the west exchange gifts on Dec. 25, too.
Armenians also celebrate Jesus' baptism on Jan. 6, Hardy said. In the
Armenian church, the Epiphany commemorates Jesus' baptism.
The program will be divided into four parts. Dr. Levon Saryan will
speak about Armenian music and cultural traditions. Mary Buchaklian
will talk about food and Julie Der Garabedian will talk about
Armenian New Year's customs and traditions.
Armenians celebrate New Year's Day on Jan. 1, and traditionally it's
the day Santa Claus would come for the children, Der Garabedian said,
giving out small gifts and little bags of fruit and nuts.
This free program is in conjunction with the museum's exhibit
focusing on State Street as a gateway neighborhood and the Armenian
Americans who called the neighborhood home. It is part of the
Heritage Museum's ongoing Conversations Series.
GRAPHIC: Mark Hertzberg - Racine Journal Times Charles Hardy, the
archdeacon of St. Mesrob Armenian Apostolic Church, helped organize a
display about Racine's Armenian heritage at the Racine Heritage
Museum. It includes a showcase of religious items, including a crown
worn by the celebrant during the Divine Liturgy.