In NKR's village, ethnographers welcomed New Year according to old traditions

On January 13, in the Tsmakaog Community, Martakert District of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR), ethnographers organized a New Year party according to Karabakh ancient traditions. For the village, it was an important cultural event, which was supported by all the residents, the local administration has reported.

The celebration took place on January 13. In the morning, all the Tsmakaog residents gathered in one house, where a great feast was organized. Women baked traditional bread in the "tonir" (an oven, dug into the ground and lined with bricks, – note of the "Caucasian Knot"), Christmas cakes "Taregata" and other ethnic meals - kurkut, kakhandanush and kchekhash. Young people danced and played various national games. Children, according to the tradition named "Gotekakh", visited village houses, wished Happy New Year, and received sweets in response, said Mariam Palafyan, an ethnographer.

The celebration on ancient traditions was organized for the second time. According to Palafyan, the village will manage to revive and preserve the Karabakh tradition of welcoming the New Year.

The ethnographers' idea was perceived positively by locals, who are ready to continue supporting it. According to Naira Gasparyan, a villager, much has been lost after the Karabakh war, which was a great tragedy for the people.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.