The Saint Paul globe., 1896-12-20


Among the 1S4 general holidays on
the calendar Of the Gregorian Armen-
ians two are especially prominent
Christmas and Easter. Both of these
festivals are extended over three days
and both come twelve days after our
celebration of the same festivals, ow-
ing to the difference between the Greek
calendar, which they reckon by, and
the Roman
Although their Christmas celebration
varies materially from ours, the pre-
Iiminaries are quite as engrossing as
those antedating our Christmas or
Thanksgiving.
In the street it is a joyful thing to
watch the vermicelli-maker as he pours
the spotless dough from a shining
ladle into the bright brass colander.
from whence it drops in thin streams
on the hot griddles, placed above the
brick oven, to emerge curling into
crisp white threads, which are then
gathered and thrown into polished
wooden bowls for sale.
The "chatlack' '-venders do a rushing
Misunderstanding their pancakes in
SIIQuIOS over DIdZISIS III lIl0 SlSIlI OIL
all mankind. These, like the kadaif,
q preparation similar to our shredded
wheat, are purchased by the customer
and carried home, to be sauted in hot
butter and eaten with syrup
A PEEP INTO THE HOMES.
In the home the women are unusual
ly busy. All the washing and cleaning
are done the week before (there is no
1roning). The house is made immacu-
late, the brass or silver trays and
spoons frightened until they shine like
mirrors, and the boarded jars of pre-
clous sweetmeats, with the summers
sunshine and roses fragrance stin
prisoned in their translucent depths.
are brought from under lock and KEY.
Then comes the concoction of the lus-
clous sweets for which the Armenian
housewives are deservedly famous.
and which they consider too important
TO be intrusted to the unskillful care
of servants. The whole house is filled
with the commingled perfumes of
honey and sesame, fruits and flowers,
ana the small boy can scarce possess
his youthful soul and appetite in
patience.
Then all things being in readiness
the whole family go to the public bath
IAAC Acll4lCI anu grown DOyS one QaV.
the women and children the next-and
with spotless house. immaculate linen
ana SHINING countenances they await
the holiday.
CHRISTMAS EVE.
Christmas evening the father buys a
dozen candles such as are used in the
Gregorian churches. These are about
the thickness Of lead pencil. but a lit
O md rn foc ~
edges of the dining table, held in posi-
ton by their own wax. The family
now gather together, the father in the
place of honor, the divan, with the
table set in front Of him, while the
famlly group themselves about it, seat
ed on rugs. The candles are lighted
and the Christmas speech made by the
rather, who times his remarks with the
burning of the candles. In this annual
speech the story of Christ's birth and
chlldhood Is told. with great emphasis
{ laid upon his f1lial obedience, as a sal
utary lesson for the children, whose
fmouths water for the coming feast, but
whose eyes watch anXiously for the
burning out Of the candles.
When the last taper is extinguished
and the last moral pointed all fall to
albeit very decorously-upon the Ius-
c1ouS viands. There are delicious lit
tie beef rolls enveloped in watercress
curious dolmas of rolled cabbage leaves
stuffed with a forcemeat, the thin
sheets of gul-laj, rolled and twisted,
covered with syrup and Armenian but
ter, and crowned with crispy walnut
meats. Pilaff, specially prepared for
this occasion with raisins and beech
nuts, is the piece de resistance Then
there is the popular mahlebi, a kind of
custard, made with flour, sugar and
milk, haVored with rose water and SER
we'd with clotted cream; to say nothing
of rasb'ab, concocted from raisins,
plums, apples, chemis, and often sweet