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Dubai: Armenians look forward to Christmas on January 6

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  • Dubai: Armenians look forward to Christmas on January 6

    Gulf News, UAE
    Jan 1 2014

    Armenians look forward to Christmas on January 6

    Dubai's Armenian community keep up with ancient tradition

    By Razmig Bedirian, Staff Reporter

    Dubai: For many people, the holidays have been brought to an end with
    New Year's Day. The thinning fir tree will lose its lights on its way
    out, and the rest of the Christmas ornaments will soon find themselves
    back in the storage room. The vibrant warmth of the festive home decor
    will recede to its ordinary hue, and the drag of the months begins.

    However, 12 days after 2013's Christmas, the aroma of fir still
    breathes in Armenian households as they celebrate Christmas on January
    6. Silver trays bearing dried figs, apricots and choreg (a sweet bread
    containing raisins) can be found on the dining tables in households.

    The Armenian Community in Dubai and the northern emirates unite under
    the pointed dome of Sharjah's Saint Gregory the Illuminator Church,
    which was inaugurated in November 1998, to pray and hear the Christmas
    sermon. `Unfortunately, the Bible doesn't confirm the exact date of
    Christmas,' Father Aram Deyirmendjian said.

    `We believe that Christ was born and baptised on January 6.' The
    parish priest of the UAE Armenians said that both dates were the
    product of calculations from the day Jesus was believed to be
    conceived.

    `While most Christians cele-brate the feast of the Epiphany [baptism]
    and the birth on different dates, the Armenian Church celebrates them
    on the same day,' he added.

    `December 25 was originally a pagan festival, western churches set the
    date at 25th to replace it,' he said. The shift from the Julian to the
    Gregorian calendar also played a part in having different Christmas
    dates. The Russian, Coptic and Ethiopian churches celebrate Christmas
    on December 25 according to the Julian calender which falls in January
    on the Gregorian calender.

    Following Christmas, Deyirmendjian said he has another duty which is
    to visit Armenian homes and bless them.

    http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/general/armenians-look-forward-to-christmas-on-january-6-1.1273005



    From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
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