The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-12-15
THE ARMENIAN CHRISTMAS.
One of the Prosecuted Race Tells of the
Customs of His PeopIe.

Customs of His People.
II Is not as easy to describe the customs
OF the Armenian people In their celebration
OF Christmas as Il would be 20 tell OF the
English or the American ways OF celebrat-
ing because the customs OF my people diff
fer according to their habitat Scattered
as the Armenians are from Cons,ant.nople
and other cities 10 the little villages In
Asia Minor, there are many Observances
that are almost purely local. Some or
these. however. are extremely Interesting.
To begin. Christmas is not observed on
the same day with as as Il IS here, for
there is a difference OF twelve days in the
calendar. as everybody knows. So our
Christmas falls on your January g. Com
ing as X does so near New Years day. IL
is not 50 much of r. social occasion as II
probably would he otherwise. but as re-
licous festival II ranks With Easter, and
the two days are the principle feas,s Of the
year.
The religious services are most impress
sive. our churches differ from yours in
some ways. for there are no peNs IN them.
and Ne adorn them as richly as We are able
10 &C. The principal service on Christmas
d4v is sort OF high mass that is cele-
hrated before iaybre8k. EVERYBODY who =
able 10 % so goes 20 this mass. 81 which
the highest church gpi.ary IN the neish-
horhood ALWAYS officiates. II there IS an
archbishop near, ne Is the one; II not Il
&c the bishop Ard every body wears MS
very best clothes II is the general CUSTOM
to give the children new suit oI CLONES II
t,assfbfe on Christmas. II the parents can-
not AFFORD 50 much. they WI az least con-
frfve 20 give some article o. dress. II X IS
only a pair Of new shoes.
This has lei % another custom which Is
IN vogue especially in Constantinople.
where tho Armenian children are all edu-
Gated in our paroch.al schools. These
schools are located in the church yards ard
are. Of course. supported by the csurc1aS.
Some OF the children are very poor. ana a
collection IS always taken up az me 'Arlst-
mas s.rv,ce in tho church Tor the purpose
Of buying new clothes Tor inc cI'lnFt
v-N,se narents cannot clothe them property
There Is ore very benevolent gentlenan a
merchant In CorstantiTo0ie. whom ] kno"
very well. who a'wavs buys great number
~ suits a. Chr.stwas-from twenty 10
sixtv or seventy. according 10 what ne can
afford. ,,-.-. =
-,. ra~hsps as general among oir people
"a - - here. though in the cities No are
~e,i7ir adopting Fslropean customs
rs~.s-r.z are given. bat most frequently
~ ss,0er.ors % their interiors, o. ny elders
20 children.
,e.e- .As church services the reonle greet
one another with spN,'A1 ssll's 'lol
or. ssvs .sChrISt IS bora an1 ire reply
= blessed = the birth % Chris." This
= az thev return 70 their homes from
church
later p, ne day there is n general inter
-Na--o q visits. much ike 'he fashion q
IaU years calls. which IS stin ke9' ~ IN
some -,a-ts % this country. though Win
.Nts Inference. Il s deemed almost oo'iEa-
;o-,- far Interiors 20 can or superioTs. ana
- ,,e Younger members q The co1lEEaie-
i.v p, call on the elder There IL, o.
curse 10 law about ,his but II an err
r,Iovs-. Tor example should net receive
-,W sr,-r, each o. his employees. Re Would
49, fAst his dignity had lot been properly
respected. and me employee would ieel ina
So haa ben rude - say ne least re-
,,,s.-,h.- .Nat nay father used to re2ToNe
re severely - failed - cal on any ore
~, Nss A right % expect Vis,t rom ne
wen a visitor arrives az the house %
-1,, r--son ne IS calling o.. he IS rs0eiFc9
e.>,-,sIre 20 his station. II he < a depend
r~r or a servant or aired man he i,'aN very
'fsslv receive = small present o. money :
0erhans onlv as much as = cents, 80 -.
Ns~s s % SO. or he nav. eSpecia44y ~ me
~,,,-.-,-. receive food or clothing y ne :
= ~o,isl equal BE Vii Be enier'a9oea VIZ