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Kaghand, Navasard, Amanor: the evolution of the Armenian New Year celebration

To gain something new in the upcoming year is not enogh to have a good celebration of the New Year but also some spiritual changes are needed to let go of the past and get the best new things coming our ways.
In the past New Year was being celebrated on the 1st of Nisan i.e. March 22 which was thought to be the birthday of Adam. On this day peple were giving each other gifts and congratulating.
Throuought its long history the Armenian people had three tyupes of New Year.
The word "Kaghand" had derived from the latin calendale which had taken the meaning of the 1st day of the New Year in Armenian. Kaghand was greatly celebrated in all of the regions of Armenia, there woul be held festive rituals which would also be accompanied with giving sacrifices to the Gods.

The second Armenian New Year was being celebrated on the day when the Patriarch of the Armenians The Great Hayk conqured the king of Babylon Bel. According to the legend the Great Hayk or Hayk Nahapet killed Bel on the August 11 and freed his nation from the tirant. SInce then the Armenian had been celebrating the New Year on the August 11. Supposedly it  all happened 2492 BC.   
In the ancient Armenian mythology not Santa Claus but Grandpa Kaghand was the symbol of the fest who would appear with a rod and a sheep fur coat.
What about the Christmas Tree? In Armenia the Christmas tree was replaced with the olive tree branches. People would hang colorful threads, fresh and dry fruits and cookie on it. The head of the family would also take it to the church in ordr for the tree to be blessed.
Nowadays the Newy Year is celebrated on the Hunvar (January) 1 - the month of the birth of Jesus Christ. January or Hunvar in Armenian means birth. Before the arrival of Christ all of the people were slaves in the hell after death but by neing born in that month Jesus Christ demolished the hell, saved the humanity from the eternal death and lead them to the Kingdom of Heaven. That's why the month of Jnauary has marked the beginning of the year.
The Armenian people today celebrate the New Year with joy and pleasure. It's the beloved fest of the kids ho are waiting for Dzmer papik (Winter grandpa) to bring them gifts - traditionally the gifts are hidden under the pillows of each kid instead of puttng them under the tree.

 

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