Just as the rest of the world winds the holiday celebrations down, Armenians and other Orthodox Christians are just getting started.
This Sunday is what in some cultures is called “Three Kings Day,” and in other cultures is called “Old Christmas.” The Christian populations in the Middle East mainly fall into the group of people who celebrate Old Christmas – which, I guess, means that just about the time that the rest of the world is thinking about getting down the tree, packing up the ornaments and polishing off the rest of the fruitcake and leftovers, Orthodox Christians of all ethnicities are just warming up.
For 30 days, the custom is not to eat meat, but to serve ancient dishes with ingredients of things like beans and chickpeas, fruits, vegetables and rice. Now is the time for the Advent fast to be broken – and to break out the special foods of the season. On Christmas Eve – at midnight – every light in the house is traditionally extinguished and then the lights are turned back to symbolize the coming of the new light of the world. Then, the feasting and the gaiety begins. Lamb, fowl (in America, turkey), and all sorts of wonderful dishes find their way to the table. Friends and family come from all over to exchange presents, to eat, to sing to dance the old dances. It really is a wonderful time.
