Residents of Armenia explain difference between Christmas and New Year

The holiday of Christmas, unlike the New Year holiday, is usually celebrated with family members: after a visit to a church, people set the table with dishes traditional for the holiday, residents of Yerevan say.

On January 5, the Chragaluyts Candlelight Divine Liturgy was served in all the churches of the Armenian Apostolic Church. Believers brought home candles, lampads, and consecrated water, considered to be healing.

Residents of Yerevan told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent about their attitude to the Christmas holiday. "In our family, we believe in God, and Christmas is a bright and beloved holiday for us. It means the beginning of all good and faith in the future," said housewife Ani Petrosyan.

Christmas is an important holiday for every Christian, journalist Sona Adamyan says.

Advocate Araik Papikyan has noted that Christmas stands out among the holidays of the year.

Medical student Armen Keshishyan says his family members cook traditional fish and pilaf with dried fruits. According to the student, they celebrate the holiday at home.

Christmas is a good occasion to gather all family members at home, Andranik Arutyunyan emphasizes.

Shushan Antonyan notes that for her, it is more a national than a Christian holiday.

"In recent years, we have been celebrating Christmas as a regular New Year's day," said biologist Aiarpi Simonyan. Programmer Arshak Melkonyan says he treats January 7 as an ordinary day.