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Party Town: Yerevan is prepped for national holiday celebration
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“It is like a traditional ritual which has its all rules. First the metal skeleton of the New Year is assembled by the producers and then when it is erected and branches are added, other specialists join in the decoration work,” says Norik Musayelyan, who has participated in the eighth consecutive installation of a New Year tree in Yerevan.
Norik, who has acquired considerable skill in this work, says that up to four days are needed only to assemble the metal skeleton. Then, he says, the decoration work begins, taking another three days. The lights are put on the tree in the end. The tree is ultimately dressed up by December 25.
News
Issues of importance in the country and region
Year 2008: Political upheavals, intensified negotiations
The fifth election of the head of state was marred by dramatic events of March 1 when clashes between police and supporters of the radical opposition protesting the election outcome resulted in 10 deaths.
The starting positions of the new president Serzh Sargsyan could hardly be viewed as enviable. Neither Levon Ter-Petrosyan nor Robert Kocharyan were faced with such challenges when they took their presidencies.
Should We Stay or Should We Go?: Party prices in Armenia rival costs in exotic locales
But time and circumstances have changed and so, too, are traditions.
“The number of people wishing to spend New Year abroad goes up with each year,” says Anna Gabrielyan, travel consultant from Levon Travel agency. “I think the tendency is because people changed their perception of holidays and vacation. For example many couples prefer now a wedding trip abroad instead of having a big wedding. We met a couple who married in fall, but waited for New Year to go abroad for the honey moon.”
Currency Curve: Dram [not typically] losing ground during New Year shopping period
Trading at 308-310 for one US dollar at major exchange offices in Yerevan this week, the Armenian currency has depreciated by some 8-10 points against what it was only several weeks ago and throughout the year overall.
Civilitas: First report analyzes “Armenia in 2008”
Like other reports that have recently emerged, including Policy Forum-Armenia (see http://armenianow.com/?action=viewArticle&AID=3449), the Civilitas Foundation report released today (December 26) portrays a country, as indeed its title suggest “in crisis”.
Features
Peoples and Events of Interest
Happy 2009, Gyumri: plentiful menu and a Bishop’s wish
A typical oriental market with relatively low prices, the market’s customers are people with low or average income.
The well-off residents of Gyumri do their New Year shopping at supermarkets for several years already. There are some 10 such markets in Gyumri where one can get anything – from food to toys.
Happy 2009, Karabakh!: Christmas tree from Thailand, khorovats and toast for peace
However, not everybody will be able to make barbecue this year. Earlier this year-in spring- “African plague” diminished the swine population and now Karabakh butchers have to sell imported pork from Brazil. The thing is that Brazilian and Karabakh pork cannot be even compared: Karabakh pork has very special taste owing it to the fact that many farmers in Karabakh prefer hybrids of a domestic pig and a wild boar. That’s the secret of the unique taste Karabakh pork has.
Happy 2009: Vanadzor gets ready for New Year with pork, turkey and money from abroad
Mid-day marketplaces are crowded with shoppers bundled against the cold and bundled with shopping bags with foodstuffs aimed for the New Year table.
Many shoppers know Liana Chkheidze, 63, who makes the trip from Batumi, Georgia (some 580 kilometers from Vanadzor) to sell citrus and other items to Vanadzor shoppers.
New Ways for New Year: Cultural shifts reflect sign of the times
Layer on layer, 40 thin sheets, nuts, cinnamon, cardamom, and lastly sweet honey…
The pastries and pakhlava baked by Ruzan Harutyunyan, a resident of one of Yerevan’s suburban districts, are famous among the locals.
Tighten Up?: Some merchants, psychologists say March 1 2008 affects January 1 2009
Armen, 16, who provides for the needs of his mother and two sisters for a whole year with the money he earns in several days, says the 2008 started in abundance, but ends poorly.
“I don’t know, some of my old customers have called me already, but at this time last year I had no free hours left. People this year seem reluctant and also seem to have no extra money to order a Santa,” says Armen.
Arts
A look at culture and entertainment
Holiday Reading: New book offers “contemporary” entertainment
The publication was sponsored by the Netherlands’ Prince Claus Fund for Culture and development. Many of the works included in the anthology have appeared in “Inknagir” (Autograph) literary magazine. (www.inknagir.org) The book was compiled by Vahan Ishkhanyan, ArmeniaNow reporter and “Inknagir” literary club’s chairman and poet Violet Grigoryan, “Inknagir’s” editor. Ishkhanyan’s short stories and Grigoryan’s poems are among entries in the volume.
Sport
If an Armenian kicked it, lifted it, wrestled it, etc. you?ll find news of it here
Sports Review 2008: ‘Bronze’ Beijing Spells ‘Golden’ Year for Armenia
In what the National Olympic Committee (NOCA) president recently described as a year to be recorded with “golden” letters in the history of Armenian sports, 2008 has yielded the nation six bronze medals in the Summer Olympics at a time as well as many more memorable moments to feel proud for athletes competing at various-level international championships.
Gagik Tsarukyan further suggested that the “successful year” could become a springboard to better performances in the future and most importantly to “changing the color and quantity” of medals at the London Olympics in four years’ time.
Photo Of The Week
Merry Christmas, Armenia and Happy New Year!
Hye Santa 2009
Click on the supplement for information on HIV in Armenia.
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