Tuesday, January 27, 2015

CHRISTMAS IN SCHOOL NUMBER 14 - HRAZDAN

     Christmas in the Armenian schools is celebrated with what they call Christmas Carnivals.  The girls all dress up in beautiful evening gowns.  The boys dress up in what I would consider Halloween type costumes. We had Spiderman, Batman and assorted animals. They perform short plays and have dance exhibitions of traditional and modern dance.  Father Christmas (as they call him) comes and they perform for him.  Parents and grandparents were present for each class carnival.
 
 
Traditional Armenian dancing... Children in
costumes in background
 

More traditional Armenian dancing....
See children in background - girls in evening gowns.

Handmade Armenian crafts made by the children
on display in school hallway.

Christmas tree in school hallway.

 
Me with eighth grade girls and 5th graders.  They
all want to hold my violin :-)

Third grade class lined up with alphabet letters
in alphabetical order.  8th grade girl helping
me with this class the last day before Christmas
break.  Armenian teacher was not with me...
I made these letters for the third grade class.
 
 
 
         Girls dancing at 5th grade carnival . . .

Boys playing Armenian drums . . . They are
exceptionally talented.

Me playing Jingle Bells while kids sing it in
English and Armenian.. I played at each grade carnival..
Not so talented as the children....  :-) 
 

3rd graders in costumes talking with Santa . . .

Batman visits Santa...

Children in carnival dance... They have beautiful
hand motions in Armenian dance.

5th grade boys in traditional Armenian dance.

5th grade girls in traditional Armenian dance . . .

Armenian dance class dancing to "American music
of Rock Around the Clock..."

More dance class girls to Armenian music....

Check out the girls' evening gowns in the
background here .....


It was a lovely two day Christmas celebration at the school.  So different from what we experience in the United States.  No food, and no presents - just dancing, singing of Jingle Bells and performances.




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