Armenian legends and festivals

The author of the study which follows responded to the lure of his task for both theoretical and practical reasons. He seemed, because of his intimate personal relationship to Armenian life, to be peculiarly qualified to study and interpret a cross-section of that country's life. It is particularly urgent that we as Americans have authentic studies of Armenia and Armenian social life. Heretofore there has been a striking lack of such materials readily accessible in English. Because of the not inconsiderable immigration which reaches us from Armenia, and because also there has been a call for the United States to act as mandatory for this country under the peace treaty, we should penetrate more deeply into the Armenian heart than we have been able to do so far, if we are to carry through successfully our job either as assimilator or as friendly guardian. Moreover there is incumbent upon the United States in particular the duty of understanding a country like Armenia, since we have been foremost in proclaiming the doctrine of the rights of small nationalities. Those are the practical purposes from the standpoint of social politics which have given rise to and confer full warrant upon this study.

Of no less importance, however, is the contribution which Mr. Boettiger's study makes to theoretical sociology. He has sketched out for us the picture of a refractory culture which refuses to amalgamate with or yield to or be permeated by rival cultures. The social history of this sturdy people offers us a very clear-cut example of what really makes a society or a nation. Not mountains, not dynasties, not blood, but common interests, common traditions, common beliefs; in short, mental community.

The theoretical joins with the practical service of this study if it can strengthen our understanding that only as our own blood and that of our Armenian friends reach the place where they boil at the same temperature, or are cooled by the same application of reason, can we minister to each other or carry out the new partnership which may lie immediately ahead of us in the reëstablishment of peace and the reorganization of world comity.

Arthur J. Todd

CONTENTS

Pages

Introduction 1-2

Part I. Legends

Chapter I. The geography of Armenia 5-8

Chapter II. Ancient historical legends 9-23

Section 1. The legend, of Haic 9 2. The legend of Ara and Semiramis 10 3. Historical background of the legend of Ara and Semiramis 11 4. The legend of Vahakn 14 5. The historic background of the legend of Vahakn 15 6. The period of national integration 17 7. Legends of Artasches and Artavasd 20 8. Conclusions 22

Chapter III. Legends of the conversion to Christianity 24-38

Section 1. Pre-Christian mythology and religion 24 2. Legends of Abgar, Thaddeus, and St. Bartholomew 27 3. Legends of Rhipsime and Gregory 29 4. The Armenian church as a social force 34

Chapter IV. Locality legends 39-44

Section 1. Ararat 39 2. Khor-Virap and Erzerum 43

Chapter V. Interpretation and conclusions 45-48

Part II. Festivals

Chapter I. The Gregorian church 51-55

Chapter II. Pagan folk festivals 56-66

Section 1. Vartavar and the Festival of Mihr 56 2. The Day of the Dead and Vartan's Day 58 3. Fortune-Telling Day 62

Chapter III. Christian folk festivals 67-78

Section 1. Christmas, Easter, and New Year 67 2. Special church ceremonies 71

Chapter IV. Private festival occasions 79-90

Section 1. Baptism 79 2. Betrothal 80 3. Marriage 83 4. Funeral 87

Chapter V. Summary 91-96

Conclusions 92