Armenia is a very ancient country whose people have cultivated grains and vegetables and have raised livestock for thousands of years. The great diversity present in this cuisine comes from the fact that it has evolved, changed, and expanded for such a long period of time.

The foundations of Armenian cuisine are lamb, eggplant, yogurt, and bulgur, but they also eat many kinds of beans and legumes, greens and vegetables like peppers, tomatoes, spinach, purslane, pumpkins and squash. Many different kinds of fruits are available in Armenia, such as pomegranates, apricots, quinces, apples, and plums. Nuts and seeds used in the cuisine include sesame, pine nuts, pistachios, and walnuts. It is not uncommon for the Armenians to combine dried fruits and seeds or nuts to make wonderful and rich desserts. Flavorings like sumac, garlic, mint, parsley, coriander, and cinnamon are used, along with rose water. It is common to see meat stews and soups flavored with fresh and dried fruits in this part of the world. Armenians enjoy eating meatballs, briny cheese, and pickled, dried and marinated vegetables. As in other countries of the region, kebabs and stuffed vegetables are eaten as well, but surprisingly, Armenians do not depend on rice dishes nearly as much as their neighbors.

Some Armenian dishes include:

Lavash

This is well-known Armenian flatbread, more pliable and easier to work with than its thicker cousin the pita. It is commonly available in most North American supermarkets.

Lahmacun

Lahmacun is one of the most famous Armenian dishes. It is a type of Armenian pizza with ground lamb on top.

Ghapama

This is a stew of dried fruits and nuts baked inside a pumpkin.

Rogig

This is an unusually-made candy made from walnuts and grape juice. It takes several days to make because the preparer needs to thread a string through the walnuts and let them drip dry several nights in a row. This is truly a unique confection, and it is worth the time it takes to prepare.

Armenian cuisine is distinct among its neighboring cuisines due to its longevity. It offers those who explore it some delicious foods and a new appreciation for the diversity of cuisine in this part of the world.

Sources:

HamovHotov. “Armenian Recipes.” HamovHotov.com

The Republic of Armenia is a country with a smallpulation of only 2,980,000 people and much of those inhabitants reside in the capital and largest city of Yerevan, which has approximately 1.1 million people. Armenia is located in western Asia (also known as Asia Minor) and occupies approximately 11,484 square miles of land, which is the 141st largest country in the world by geographic area. Armenia borders Turkey, Azerbaijan, Iran, and Georgia, and is a landlocked country. The geographic terrain of the country is largely mountainous, especially Mt. Aragats. Though Armenia doesn’t have a coastline, it does have numerous sizeable lakes which generate a lot of revenue toward the national economy through its thriving fishing industry. Armenia also is industrialized in its urban areas particularly the cities of Yerevan, Kumayri, Vanadzor, and Yejmiadzin, where most of the country’s population resides. Armenia is densely populated and thus there aren’t as many rural villages as there are in other countries throughout Asia Minor.

Armenia is somewhat ethnically diverse, as though the main ethnic group in the country is Armenian, there are also Azerbaijanis, Kurds, Russians, and Ukrainians from neighboring countries. Since the largest ethnic group in Armenia is Armenian, in turn, the most widely-spoken language is Armenian, though Russian and other Cyrillic languages are used as well. The country of Armenia was formerly known as Caucasia, and has a long history that dates back to as early as 1270 BC. However, in recent history, Armenia was victim to numerous battles between the Ottoman and Russian Empires over control of the region. The outcomes of such battles often varied, but Russia inevitably emerged victorious and became a Soviet republic in 1922 and remained as such until it declared independence from Moscow in 1991.

Though Armenia is becoming increasingly industrialized and much of the population resides in urbanized areas, agriculture still contributes immensely toward the national economy and more than half of the country’s labor force is employed in this sector. The main agricultural products that are produced in Armenia are grapes, vegetables, tropical fruits, and livestock. Armenia also has a strong mining sector where gold, bauxite, copper, molybdenum, zinc, and salt. Additionally, other industries that are present in Armenia include textiles, food processing, electronics, diamonds, and Armenian brandies and wines. However, the Armenian economy has experienced little growth since their independence from USSR, and it has been plagued by high unemployment and high inflation rates. The Armenian GDP per-capita is still well-below the world standard, and is only $4,863 per year, which ranks it as the 108th highest in the world.

Despite the fact that Armenia has been plagued with relatively economic instability, the country has experienced some political stability since the Republic’s inception in 1991. The government is much like any other republic and includes an executive branch that is headed by the president, who is elected by the popular vote of the constituents to serve a five-year term. Additionally, the government is comprised of a national assembly that has 131 representatives. The president’s assisted with the daily operations of the government by a prime minister, whom he/she is responsible for appointing. The current President of Armenia, since his election in 1998, is President Robert Kocharian, and Armenia’s prime minister is Andranik Margaryan, who was appointed by President Kocharian in May of 2000.

Nestled among the Caspian and Black Sea, Turkey, Georgia, Iran, and Azerbaijan is the mountainous, landlocked country of Armenia or more officially known as the Republic of Armenia. As a former republic of the Soviet Union, Armenia is today a unitary, multiparty, democratic nation-state with a population of around 3,200,000. The Armenian people are close with their Christian faith, being the country’s official religion.

As far as politics, history, and religion go, Armenia is regarded as a European country; however, its location being on the southern Caucasus indicates that the country is a transcontinental country with an arbitrary border connecting Europe and Asia (Armenia, 2007). It is quite difficult to define exactly where the border between the two continents exists. Armenia can be considered quite a beautiful but small country. “The country spans 29,743 square kilometers (11, 490 square miles, about the size of Belgium or Maryland) of mountainous terrain centered around the Ararat Valley, the heart of the Armenian nation since biblical times. Ancient geographers called the Armenian Highlands the ‘Island of Mountains’ of the ‘Rooftop of Asia Minor’ (ATDA, 2007, p.1).”

An important and interesting fact about Armenia is the fact that it is believed that Mt. Ararat is where Noah’s Ark came to rest after the great flood, which is in Armenia. As mentioned before, Armenia is mostly mountainous and it contains a few forests and some fast flowing rivers. The climate there is usually continental. It is hot, dry, and sunny in the summer, and lasts from June to September. The winter is terribly cold and the snowfall is abundant. The spring is short and the autumn is long and full of beautiful foliage (2007). Although it is a beautiful, prospering country, Armenia has a history that is nothing short heart breaking and frightening. When the word holocaust or genocide is heard, usually the first place one thinks of is Nazi Germany and murdering of the Jewish people. Sadly, millions of Armenians were exterminated as well by the Turks. Here is their unfortunate story.

Though it may seem astonishing, during the days of the Ottoman Empire, the Turks and the Armenians coexisted with each other in harmony for many, many years; however, Armenians were second class citizens. They paid special taxes and endured tough times, but rarely there was any violence.

As time went on, Nationalism came into existence and with it brought much self-consciousness to many ethnic groups. Lo and behold, the Ottoman Empire began to collapse. Armenians being a Christian minority, they were not as successful as others at gaining independence which caused the Armenians to become singled out as the only major Christian group left. Naturally, the Armenians also wanted their independence. But they were trapped among the Turks, some who were dreaming of a Pan-Turkic empire that would stretch all the way into Asia and the others who were nationalist Turks who wanted to make them disappear (Kojian, 2007).

Other European nations saw the way the Armenians were being treated and they requested that improvements be made for them. That is where the problems began because from then on out, the Armenians were treated worse. The year was 1894. From then until 1896 hundreds of thousands of Armenians were ordered to be killed by Sultan Abdul Hamid II. This came to be known as the Hamidian Massacres. In 1908, the Sultan government was overthrown by young, progressive Turks who had gained the trust of the Armenian people. Enver, Jemal, and Talat were extreme nationalists and took complete dictator control after promising reforms to the Armenians. Their cruel and horrible intentions were to fully eliminate the Armenian race because they were part of the Turkish group who possessed the dream of a pan-Turkish empire. The young Turk government used World War One to conceal and carry on with their evil strategy. On April 24, 1915, hundreds of leaders from Armenia were summoned and gathered up to Instanbul where they were murdered. The poor Armenian people were left with no leaders and they were to soon follow across the Ottoman Empire (2007).

From village to village, the Armenians cooperated with their government’s plan to ‘relocate them for their own good.’ At first they were only asked to turn in their hunting weapons for the war effort. Next, communities were required to meet quotas and would resort to buying additional weapons from the Turks to meet their quota. The government turned around and claimed that the weapons were proof that the Armenians were planning a rebellion. They started to draft men who were able bodied for the war effort. However, these men never made it to war because they were killed or worked to death immediately. The villages now contained only women, children, and the elderly. The death marches began when they were told to gather only what they could carry for a temporary relocation and escorted by Turkish Gendarmes. As the Turkish Gendarmes led them across the desert, they either turned their heads or led the horrific atrocities. The Armenians, if not first murdered, were raped, starved, dehydrated, or kidnapped. The destination they were marching toward was the Syrian Desert, but there was nothing waiting there for them but death because if they somehow survived the death march, they were killed upon arrival. There were some, however, that did manage to escape the empire, usually through help from ‘good Turks,’ from foreign missionaries who recorded much of these happenings as well as from Arabs (2007).

When the war ended, the Turkish government held criminal trials and found Enver, Jemal, and Talat guilty in abstentia. Eventually, all three were put to death by the Armenians. Turkey then agreed to allow the United States to create the border between the Turkish government and the newly established Republic of Armenia. The way Armenia was divided was called Wilisonian Armenia. Most of the six western provinces of the Ottoman were still included and also a gigantic coastline on the Black Sea. In addition, there was to be a French mandate called Cilicia, a separate Armenian region on the Mediterranean. Unfortunately, newly returned Armenian refugees and forces were pushed from these lands by the forces of Mustafa Kemal. The Armenian victims were insulted by the writing of a new treaty because they were basically told to never return and never expect any compensation. In an agreement with the Soviet Union, the Kars and Ardahan provinces were taken as well (2007).

Today and in the past few decades, the Turkish government has been denying that the horrid genocide ever took place. In addition, they have spent millions of dollars to expand that view (2007). There have even been books written about Turkey’s denial and feelings on the event. One such book is a novel called “The Daydreaming Boy,” written by Micheline Aharonian Marcom. In essence, it is about the impact the genocide had on the individual. “To Turkey, the event that Armenians call genocide was the unfortunate function of an environment of conflict in which Christians and Muslims alike died. Modern day Turkey would have to overcome generations of indoctrination to concede officially that its forefathers were racist murderers. Moreover, Turkish recognition of the genocide could expose the country to the risk of massive financial (as well as land) reparation claims, similar to those faced by Germany and German companies (Iskyan, 2004, p. 2).” Some countries are now starting to recognize the Armenian event as a genocide, which of course does not set well with Turkey. One of the most recent countries to do so was Canada. “Aris Babikian of the Armenian National Committee of Canada said he was elated by the vote, which Armenians in Canada had spent 25 years waiting for. ‘This victory is not only for the victims of the Armenian genocide and the Armenian people, it is a victory for justice, truth, reconciliation, and healing,’ he said. Canada joins a small number of other countries including France, Russia, Argentina, Greece, and Uruguay, in describing the events that occurred in Eastern Anatolia under the Ottoman Empire in 1915-1923 as genocide. Turkey has furiously rejected the idea that the deaths and deportation of Armenians at that time can be described as such (Toronto Star, 2004, p. 2).”

After 50 years passed, the survivors of the genocide and their children all around the world marked April 24th as a commemorating day because it was on the 24th in 1915 that the full scale massacres began. Today there are monuments and plaques and dedications all around the globe to honor and remember those that perished (Kohuan, 2007). Hundreds of thousands of people gather each year at Armenia’s capital holding carnations, tulips, daffodils, and wreaths to remember the horrible killings that took the lives of 1.5 million Armenians in Ottoman Turkey over 90 years ago. From the hill where they gather, they can see Mount Ararat, now in eastern turkey which is where the Armenians claim their people were slaughtered. “The mountain is a potent symbol for the Christian nation but it lies out of reach across a fortified frontier (Toronto Star, 2005, p. 1).” Even in America, thousands of Armenian-Americans gather for ceremonies and United States President George W. Bush has even issued a condolence statement (2005).

Hopefully, Armenia can continue to prosper as a country. Not all areas are hopeful though. At one time the hope was that hundreds of thousands of dispersed Armenians would flock back to the country. However, more than a million have departed for Russia and lands in the West. Thirty percent of their working age population now lives else where (Toronto Star, 2005). As far as the horrible genocide, well some want Turkey to pay. Who knows how long the strife and hard feelings will be shared? Hopefully all those that survived and their families can move forward with the best life possible.

Source – http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1958364/armenia_a_victim_of_genocide.html

Eastern Europe is notorious for its wonderment and traditional living. Artist’s like painter Arshile Gorky (1904 – 1948), photographer Yousuf Karsh (1908 – 2002), and painter Jean Jansem have made their own individual mark on the world of art. Their artistic contribution remains of merit
and relevance today. In 2009, Armenia takes their rightful place on the contemporary art international stage. For the first time Armenia is grabbing the spotlight in art world with the latest art exhibition set to pack them into the Armenian gallery. Armenia’s newly claimed place in the world of contemporary art comes from very humble beginnings. Formally the Soviet republic, Armenia continues to stand firmly on solid grounds politically and artistically.

The world famous art exhibition set to wow the masses is the Cafesjian exhibition. The Cafesjian art collection is owned by businessman Gerard Cafesjian, a US-citizen with Armenian roots. This art collection is set to take up permanent residence in the striking nation of Armenia. Cafesjian’s decision to make Armeria the home of his collection was not a difficult one as his heritage and family roots hail from this somewhat culturally silent on the international front nation. The extensive collection features glassware, photography and even some world famous Chagall paintings. Other contemporary artwork on displayed are the Diaspora painters.

Armenian capital of Yerevan will attract international attention as well as catch the eye of local Armenian expected to venture into the collection’s new permanent home and exhibition hall. With international cities like Paris and New York vying for the attention of avid collector Cafesjian in the run up to the final choice, it is safe to say that Armenians have taken their winning the bid with mixed emotions. As not many Armenians are exposed to contemporary art most will find the exhibition a novel installment into their daily routine and way of life. On the other hand, many others have expressed gratitude for the opportunity their nation has to promote such an esteemed collection.

The collection is on display at an original Soviet monument called the Cascade. Cafesjian invested 30 million euros ($45 million) to bring this decaying historical monument back to life. Now the Cascade is a huge white stairwell built into a slope 100 meters over Yerevan. It features
rooms, courtyards and gardens making it more than worthwhile when planning a special trip to Armenia to behold this exhibition in person.

Imagine you walking in the street in the summer heat and suddenly a group of children or teenagers come up to you running and pour pails of water over you…You are astonished, confused and do not know what to do, if you are in Germany, France, Russia or elsewhere. Nevertheless if you are in Armenia, the only thing to do is just smile and laugh from the heart…IT’S VARDAVAR!

Armenia Summer Festivity Vardavar is the most favorite and most joyful event – ancient tradition of water splashing. Armenia traditions, including Vardavar has a long history connected to the pagan Goddess Astghik. According to legend she spread love on earth, walking over roses that turn red from her blood. As the goddess of fertility she was associated with water.

Vardavar festivities are children’s most expected and favorite summer activity. Starting early morning till late night everyone plays, splashing water on each other. Even submissive and quiet brides would throw water on their mothers-in-law! Nobody is offended or angered by this. In the country-side areas men like to collect wheatear in the fields and take to the church for blessing. Women assemble multi-colored bouquets of flowers and throw them to the gardens and yards of their relatives and neighbors. Dances and songs, jokes and plays are part of the Summer Festivity Vardavar.

Vardavar is a great vacation tour opportunity, visiting villages of Armenia, meeting people, participating in traditional music and dance party and sharing the joy. Festivity days are changing each year calculated 98 days after Easter, always on Sundays.

In common with most of the states that came out of the ex-Soviet Union and that are now in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), Armenia and Armenians took readily to casinos and gambling in general.

Again, in common with their fellow states in the CIS, there had been a thriving underground, or illegal, gambling scene before the breakup. This was all a part of the almost insanely large black market or illegal economy that existed. As this economy exclusively (and necessarily) worked in cash, you can imagine that there were a lot of people around with large sums burning a hole in their pockets.

With the fall of the Soviet Union, many of these businesses became legal, as did many of the casinos, bars, and nightclubs where the money had previously been spent. Armenia’s casinos may not be in the same locations that they were, but they are run by very much the same people as before and fulfill the same social function. They are places for the rich to show how rich they are, by eating and drinking extravagantly and gambling prodigiously. It can almost seem that the more expensive a drink, (and the more expensive it is known to be) and the more money is lost while still smiling, the better: which is true to a point, for they are more about showing off wealth to an adoring crowd than they are about playing games of skill.

As such, Armenia’s casinos might be more interesting as part of an anthropological expedition than a vacation destination.

A list of Armenia’s casinos includes:

Argavand: Pharaon Casino and Joy Casino

Parakar: National Casino

Parakar-Thairov: Blue Diamond Casino

The National Casino has four gaming tables and slot and video machines, as well. The Blue Diamond Casino has 18 table games in total and a further 45 slot and poker machines.

Armenia has also been either at war or in a state of near war with neighboring Azerbaijan since the breakup of the Soviet Union. There is an enclave of each country within the other that they are fighting over: Nagorno-Karabakh and Nakichevan. It’s not important to remember which is which, as even the locals can become confused on the subject and why each is so important. At times, the various pieces of fighting have led to embargoes on border crossings and so on, not just between the two countries, but with neighboring ones, as well.

Armenia’s casinos may indeed be interesting but there are easier places to go to for a decent gambling game.

This article is the property of Armenia Casinos

Armenia is a land of both the old and the new. As the first Christian country of Europe and after more than 600 years of bondage to foreign powers, it is indeed one of the most exiting places to be aside from being one of the most historically rich countries in Europe. So if you want a vacation filled with culture, history, relaxation and fun, here are the ten most essential things to do in Armenia:

1.) Ughtasar

How to get to this ancient fortress is even more daunting than its name as only a 4×4 combined with the summer climate can take tourists through the top of the mountainous plateau where it is located. Upon reaching the site, you will see more than 2000 petroglyphs left behind by ancient people depicting scenes of the hunt, ancient rituals and culture. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that the view from this site is also terrific.

2.) Erebuni Fortress

The Fortress of Erebuni also holds a treasure trove of artifacts. These artifacts date back to the millennium before Christ. The fortress has been converted into a museum and here you will find around 12,000 items belonging to the ancient civilization that thrived on the land.

3.) Zvartnots Temple

This temple stands testament to Armenia as having the oldest national church in the world. This temple dates back more than 1700 years in the past and has only been recently excavated by a team of archaeologists. On the grounds, you will see not only the ancient church but a museum, cathedral and seminary as well. This place serves as the center of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

4.) National Gallery

The national gallery serves to hold national treasures such as art from classical to modern times. Not only does it contain Armenian art but western art as well. It was founded on 1919 and has since served as the repository for the country’s cultural items.

5.) Old Dilijan

This quaint country town as situated in the heart of the northern Armenian forest. The town boasts of having been the home of many famous artists, musicians, composers and others. This popular destination attracts tourists because of its early 20th century architecture and its displays of musical instruments and handicrafts.

6.) Ararat Cognac Factory

This serves as the home base for the producer of the most famous brandy maker in the country. The brandy made from this place has become the favorite of people all around the world including the famous Winston Churchill. It is a must-see place.

7.) Matenadaran Institute

It is located at the heart of Yerevan. The Matenadaran Institute houses an impressive collection of handwritten books. It is an imposing edifice guarded by the silent statues of famous Armenian intellectuals such as Mesrp Mashtots, Mkhitar Gosh, Anania Shirakatsi, Toros Roslin, etc.

8.) Gaghard Cathedral

A Church made famous by the fact that it is literally hollowed out of solid rock, the Cathedral of Gaghard is indeed an example of this countries exemplary architecture. The name Geghard literally translates into spear. It is because of the fact that it has housed the spear that has pierced the body of Jesus during His crucifixion.

9.) Haghpat and Sanahin Monasteries

Located in the region of Lori and along the banks of river of Debed, these two famous monasteries are some of the World Heritage Sites of Unesco. These two sites serve to remind not just tourists but the people of the country itself of their rich cultural heritage and intellectual achievements. The two sites’ were constructed during the 10th century and has taken hundreds of years to finish.

10.) The Garni Temple

Adorned by two dozen of Ionic columns, this temple stands as a reminder of the countries Hellenistic past. It was constructed as part of a fortress during the third century BC. Protected naturally on three sides by a rocky cliffs and a deep canyon but destroyed several times during the course of history nonetheless, it is likened to the national Spirit of Armenia which inspires its entire people to rebuild.

Jonathan Williams is the travel writer for Destination Guide TV – the place to share travel videos [http://www.destinationguide.tv] Visit [http://www.destinationguide.tv/armenia] to view or share Armenia travel videos [http://www.destinationguide.tv/armenia]