As some of you know I recently had my 20th birthday. As usual, that fateful moment came where they bring out the cake and sing you that silly song. Once all the candles were blown out my friends asked me and my cousins what the Armenian birthday song was and if we'd sing it. We all just kinda looked at each other dumbfounded... if there was one, we didn't know it? To solve the queit moment my friends all broke out into the Hebrew version of Happy Birthday and all seemed to have a good time singing it while I sat there wondering why neither me or any of my cousins knew the Armenian birthday song, if there even is one.
This is just one of the many recent events that made me wonder exactly what armenian 'culture' I am trying to preserve here. Now don't get me wrong... I'm not questioning the richness of my history, believe me, I know the history and I know there's much to be proud of our ancestors for. But history and culture are two different things... History is what's done with already, culture effects you (or SHOULD effect you) on a daily basis.
For examples... is there an Armenian 'rite' or passage? Latinos have Quincianeras, Jews has Bat and Bar Mitzvahs... hell, even the mostly cultureless Americans have the flimsy "sweet sixteen"... do Armenians have anything to that effect? How about Holidays... and I don't mean just an Armenian version of Christmas or Easter... I mean a uniquely Armenian holiday? If there is I've never heard of it, cause cause not once in any 360 days a year have I ever said "Oh wait... this is a uniquely Armenian holiday"
I like to think that being Armenian is more than just a nationality.. it's a state of mind, is a certain way of being... but maybe I'm just romantisizing it for my own benefit. I want to preserve Armenian culture... is there one?
This is just one of the many recent events that made me wonder exactly what armenian 'culture' I am trying to preserve here. Now don't get me wrong... I'm not questioning the richness of my history, believe me, I know the history and I know there's much to be proud of our ancestors for. But history and culture are two different things... History is what's done with already, culture effects you (or SHOULD effect you) on a daily basis.
For examples... is there an Armenian 'rite' or passage? Latinos have Quincianeras, Jews has Bat and Bar Mitzvahs... hell, even the mostly cultureless Americans have the flimsy "sweet sixteen"... do Armenians have anything to that effect? How about Holidays... and I don't mean just an Armenian version of Christmas or Easter... I mean a uniquely Armenian holiday? If there is I've never heard of it, cause cause not once in any 360 days a year have I ever said "Oh wait... this is a uniquely Armenian holiday"
I like to think that being Armenian is more than just a nationality.. it's a state of mind, is a certain way of being... but maybe I'm just romantisizing it for my own benefit. I want to preserve Armenian culture... is there one?
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