12. How old is the grandfather?
13. When was he born?
14. What do the grandparents do?
Note:
Armenians like to invite guests to their homes on different occasions (i.e. birthdays, parties, etc.) or just simply
to have a cup of tea or to have dinner. If you are invited to a birthday party, you are expected to take something
with you. Traditional Armenians would not tell their guests what to bring with them, even if you ask what to
bring. A close friend would buy a gift for the person. If you are a colleague you can bring a bunch of flowers
and some sweets if the person is female, or something to drink if the person is male. As a guest you will be
indulged all the time; someone will constantly fill your plate and glass. Armenians do drink when they have
parties, and they have a habit of filling the glasses of the guests as soon as they look somewhat empty. Men
usually drink vodka during parties; they may also drink brandy and beer or wine. Women usually drink wine or
liquor. Many women will not drink at all. Although Armenians do not get drunk easily, the drinks that they
might use during parties can be rather strong. Good advice is that if you have no intention of getting drunk, just
sip, otherwise your glass will immediately be filled. Sometimes the host might convince you to drink the whole
glass. Try not to resist. Pretend that you are drinking.
Weddings are nice gatherings.They start at the home of the bride where the groom’s relatives and friends visit
the family to bring the bride’s dress and be introduced officially to the bride’s family. After that, the young
couple is taken to the church for the wedding ceremony and following that, to a restaurant or a hall where they
celebrate the wedding with music, food and dancing. Relatives give gifts to the bride and groom, and close
friends also bring gifts. Colleagues usually gather money and buy one thing for the new family. Sometimes they
ask what the future family might need.
When someone dies, the corpse is moved to the hospital. After that it is brought home on the day before the
funeral and around 7:00 p.m. people will come to express their condolences to the family. Some families also
play music (e.g. mournful, etc.). The name of this ceremony is equivalent in English to “soul to rest.” The
corpse is buried on the next day around 1:00-2:00 p.m. Friends of the family, and sometimes also relatives, will
carry the coffin on their hands over their heads for a block or so, and then place it on or in the car that takes it to
the cemetery. When people visit the family for condolences, either on the “soul to rest” day or the funeral for
the first time, they bring an even numbers of flowers (carnations mostly, although other flowers are also
brought).
Armenians visit the grave on the second, seventh and fourteenth day, on the day of the annual commemoration
of the person, and then on the second day of every religious holiday throughout their lives, with decreasing
frequency over years. Armenia is a family oriented culture, and Armenians think that they have a responsibility,
even for their deceased relatives.
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