When I was growing up (USA) we celebrated on both the 25th and the 6th, with presents and big dinners on both days. What day(s) do you celebrate Christmas and how do you celebrate? 🎅🎄☃️

How is my surname spelled in Armenian? its Lepejian but I don't know how to write it in Armenian

Is the Armenian Catholic Church adhered to by a majority of Armenians in certain communities, at least historically, is it more likely to be found in certain communities than in others, or have it’s adherents always been an evenly distributed minority among Armenians worldwide compared to the majority who belong to the Armenian Apostolic Church?

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Հետաքրքիր բաներ եմ փնտրում «սլիշկոմ» երեվաներեն խոսող երեխեքի համար։

I found this shirt at a thrift store (in a city in Massachusetts with a high immigrant population). I bought it because I thought it looked cool, and I was wondering if anyone would be so kind as to translate the text, and if there is any necessary cultural context to understand what it means.

I met an Armenian women with a name that I remember sounded like titviak, titivak, or vivitak, something along those lines but I'm sure I'm getting it very wrong! Can you let me know what Armenian female names sound like that ?

This post came inspired from the other poster asking about Armenian school and their shortages. I’ve had this thought of opening an Armenian private school near the Armenian church in rancho mirage/palm desert and just outright moving my family there 😂

The name of this school has been living rent free in my head for years

Anapati Arev Haykakan Varjaran

Aka

Desert Sun Armenian School 😂

As an Armenian American- speaking no Armenian- whose great grandmother survived the genocide and left the church I’ve recently fled Helene and may move. I’ve wanted to join the church or be involved for a while but now I’m moving to an area of America with an Armenian church. I wasn’t even raised Christian but I was raised with Armenian traditions by Armenians. Thank you loves bless

It strikes me as such a bitter irony that two major schools, Arshag Dickranian and AGBU Pasadena, closed citing projections of falling enrollment, mere years before the 2023 exodus (especially in Glendale after GUSD protests and in the Valley after Saticoy protests) of Armenian students from public to private schools.

True, Dickranian closed in 2015, but AGBU's more recent 2020 closure surely hits close to home. The result now is that tuition rates have dramatically increased on top of long waitlists at the remaining dozen or so schools. It's therefore really a peak-irony: couldn't the two schools have waited just a few more years and mitigated the influx?

On top of this there is an increase of formal/informal daycares popping up like dandelions. It seems as if there is no problem of decreasing birthrates, which is overall good news for the diaspora but the quality of education is not always guaranteed in this way.

This then ties in to the concern with the fact that there is seemingly an explicit two-tiered system developing of a division between public/private school students. To avoid a misunderstanding, I think Armenian schools are great and don't think they promote assimilation as some have argued. Plus there are still many Armenian students in Glendale's public schools. There was always a division of public/private, I just think it's become much more pronounced now and potentially problematic. Also, many may choose private schooling simply for more social status and mobility (if they can afford it of course).

But what are the general future projections of having this kind of segregated schooling? To what extent will these developments help or even hinder integration and acculturation to multicultural life in LA/USA? I feel like these topics are rarely discussed if at all. The only parallels for research seem to be that of white flight to private schools in the 1960s-70s-80s after enforced bussing and mandated integration in public schools. I myself am a product of both private and public so I think I can attempt seeing problems in both. I remain a fan of public schooling and think much of the 2023 hoopla was precisely that: manufactured hysteria meant to demoralize people and cause panic. At the same time I don't dismiss the protesters as simply conspiracists, public schools do have problems, but private schools aren't some kind of bucolic paradise either.

The paradox thus seems double: Armenian parents feel pressured to enroll their kids in private schools to protect them, to the benefit of those racists who would prefer if Armenians left public schools. Remaining Armenians in public schools are then seen as suspect, harboring intolerant views. But then the private schools face backlash from neighbors over their increasing enrollment. Almost like Armenian students are in a "damned if you do, damned if you don't" situation.

Hi! Im new here. I recently did an ancestry dna test with it coming back 25% Armenian. Im so confused. Im black so when looking at American history I have no idea how historically. I know my maternal great grandfather was armenian. But thats as much as we know. I guess my question is; in the early 1900’s was there a push to midwestern america (where we are all from for the last 100-120ish years)?? I dont mean to sound ignorant im sorry. Was this an error? All I know of is my great grandfather. I can’t wait to learn more and wonder if im even valid in celebrating it because HOW in the world did 25% come out?? the math doesnt math. im just GAGGED. anyway peace and love 🇦🇲

edit: the only reason i dont know more about my grandfather is because he passed away prematurely (his early 40’s) due to surgical complications. we dont know about his siblings or parents. only names but for some reason we can’t trace back.

edit: i also wanted to thank everyone for their responses. im truly sorry for the ignorance of my post; thats not my intention. im just not quite sure how to word my question/thoughts. but the last thing i want to do is be offensive. if hurtful/ tone is rude i will delete.

As someone who lives somewhere where the Armenian population is me and only me,it hurts not being around other Armenians.That is all,just needed to get this off my chest. Cheers!

Are these Armenian letters on the center of this rug?(the two sets of small characters in red in the center) Not sure if it’s letters that are very geometrically rendered or just some shapes.

Hi everyone, my boyfriend and I plan to get engaged and build a future together. I live in LA and he is in Hayastan. He was born and raised there, no degree and has worked many jobs his whole life. Just like most Armenians there. His experience consists of construction and welding. He is very concerned about what he will be able to do here (workwise). He speaks no English, but I am teaching him and he's learning of course.

I would like to know what to be prepared for. I will be all alone in bringing him, and I don't make too much money. I'm planning things such as his expenses, insurance, driver's license, etc.

What kind of jobs should he look for? How should I help him get comfortable with living here?

I would greatly appreciate your advice and input. Also, I am a woman so it is pretty odd for me to be doing the "bringing." Would love to hear from anyone else with a similar experience.

Hi all, I have been reading an autobiography by a bizarre American guy of Armenian heritage. In the book, he recalls a phrase his dad taught him "Dardun Tapeh."

He translates it as "take ’em home and throw ’em in the garbage."

I have fair suspicion of this man's words on most subjects but this stuck out to me. I'd tried using google translate and even a bad attempt at trying to get it back into the alphabet but naturally, I'm probably screwing that one up. Beyond attempting to learn the language, I'm stumped and I'd figured I'd try reddit.

Is it a real phrase? I imagine he's embellishing as the phrase is awfully short.

Apologies for not using the language sub but it appears quite dead.

Dear Armenians of Lebanon

Please, stay strong

And if there are armenians from Lebanese, please update us about your situation

Sending all my care and love

If there are any fundings, where i can donate, please comment the links here

Taraz for wedding in Canada ?

Hi! I’m an Armenian canadian who is getting married in the next year! My fiance is going to be wearing some traditional garb from his culture and I have been hunting for a Taraz dress to wear to represent Armenia, but l haven’t had any luck tracking down an outfit. Does anyone know of places that I might be able to buy an outfit online, even if it has to ship from outside Canada !

One of my favorite artists has an absolute banger of a song where she sings in Armenian, and I want to sing along/understand what she’s singing about but don’t speak the language. I can’t find the lyrics anywhere online and I don’t know anyone who speaks Armenian! Can any kind soul help me?

The song is “Louise” by Bedouine.

Hi!

So, my husband’s dad is 100% Armenian (or at least, so he’s been told). I’ve always been interested in family history and his family hasn’t, so I’m trying to put some puzzle pieces together/we are also expecting our first child and I was thinking it would be cool to honor his heritage by including an Armenian middle name using a family name…but…

His dad’s dad (my husband’s paternal grandfather) is the son of a man who allegedly snuck onto a boat fleeing the genocide and made it to the US, adopting an English last name in the process. Apparently, his real Armenian name is just unknown and lost, and nothing is known about his paternal grandmother’s mom’s maiden name (even though she was also Armenian) so no name fodder there.

My husband’s paternal grandmother was also 100% Armenian, and so I asked him to find out what her maiden name was (she passed ten years ago). My husband said his dad said it was “Aryan,” but from my quick Google search of the name, that name isn’t recognized as being Armenian, but Iranian?

So…is Aryan an Armenian last name? Has anybody ever met anybody else Armenian with that last name? I’m now wondering if there’s more to his family history than he thought, and the curiosity is killing me! Any help would be appreciated :) thank you!

Considering cremation for my father who passed away a few days ago mostly for the cost difference I don’t work at the moment and would have to put it on a credit card basically (quoted 25-30k). Spending that much money won’t bring him back and there won’t be a lot of people attending the funeral maybe 5-10. I just feel like it’s disrespectful in the Armenian culture compared to a burial. But then cremation is irreversible so no going back from that either.

What are your thoughts?

Hello, does anyone have any contacts with Armenians in/from Egypt?

I am on a mission to research my family history, and it's near impossible.

I am hoping someone on here might have some hints or contacts, because my family who immigrated from there 60 years ago don't know anything!

I am part Armenian from my moms side and I got really interested in learning about that culture. I went on a deep dive on my Families last name which was Kirtogian (Kourtogyan). Found them on this list and found the ship they came to the United States on!!

https://markarslan.org/ArmenianImmigrants/Public-ViewSummary-ArmenianImmigrants-Main-ByJoiningAddress.php?SelectJoiningCountry=USA&SelectJoiningStateProvince=MO&SelectJoiningTown=St.+Louis&SelectSortOrder=ByJoiningName&Staging=