The Branch Christmas Party

We're still playing catch up on the posts, but at least now we're actually writing about things that have happened this year. Many stories are in the works, such as "Vanadzor Tabernacle Choir", "Chicken Feet" and "Bela's Feast". These have all been written when we were so green---now Vanadzor itself is turning green & we are feeling adjusted and more like real Armenians.

January 6, 2010

This is Christmas Day in Armenia. Church bells have been ringing and we've spotted people walking with lighted candles, but we didn't have time to wander over to the New Church nearby (which we had wanted to do) because we were busy with our own branch party which was spectacular and should give you some good ideas. President Helelyan had announced that the party would begin at noon because he really wanted it to begin at 1:00 and he says everyone is always late. And he's right. When we arrived about 12:00 almost everyone was already there. But we did actually begin at 1:00 with a well prepared nativity pageant by the Primary. Their costumes were imaginative and they all knew their lines and it was done with reverence and enthusiasm. They had a manger surrounded by stuffed animals and they sang Silent Night with gusto. They then sang a cute Christmas song in English which Seda had learned from a CD she has used to teach English to herself and her children. President Helelyan had introduced the program with remarks about the true Church, and how we should love and care for one another, and how grateful we are for the birth of our Savior.

The Young Men and Women then did a little play about how the spirit of Christ is the spirit of love and forgiveness, and about two girls who were mad at each other, but on Christmas Day they reached out and became friends again.

Ani, who was translating for us, said she had just done the same thing and that if she died she'd go straight to the Celestial Kingdom because she had repented. Both little programs captured the true essence of what the Gospel is all about---both what happened historically, and what we should be doing every day.

Then the games began. I'm not a fun person, but these were very clever and even I had fun. The first was for all of the tatiks, including me, to divide into teams and wrap one team member as fast as we could like a mummy, with rolls of toilet paper. It was hilarious---and we should have used the cheap toilet paper, because it's, um, much stronger, and we all had problems with the paper breaking. It was a good lesson in team work.

The YM/YW then played a game where they had to dig through a bag of popcorn using only their noses and tongues to find a piece of paper which told them where to find their prize.

We played "Name That Hymn", as I played snippets from hymns, and the ones who guessed correctly then sang the hymn. There are only 45 hymns translated into Armenian.

Then Santa came!
He was dressed beautifully, with a sack full of presents. He gave a little speech about how he's just Santa Claus, but we really worship Jesus. Each child came one by one and gave a little recitation for him before receiving a gift from the sack and a bag of goodies. The children were well-behaved and happy and content with their very modest treasures.
Then out of nowhere (actually out of 5' x 5' kitchen) came people bearing trays of food. This was after two blessings. They were too noisy during the first one I think. I mean a tray for each person with bread, cheese and sausage, an orange and a mandarin, a cup of Fanta and a chocolate marshmallow cookie.

I helped to wash the dishes later---in a simmering pan of soapy water on the stove. (I'm getting over my prissy hang ups about sanitation. They don't always wash the dishes in hot water, or with soap, or dry them with a clean cloth---sometimes it's been a little scary.) It was all very efficient and tasty. The food, not the soapy hot water. I think they took the left-overs to hungry members,once again practicing what they had preached. They are kind and generous people and we are often told that Vanadzor is the best branch in Armenia.

After lunch the music came on, and the dancing came on. These people love to dance, young and old. This is Azgush dancing. (She died the next year and I dressed her in her Temple clothes for burial.) Some of the members apologized to me about the spirit switch, but I assured them that there was a good spirit during the dancing, too.
It was after the dancing that we had recitations---some sang solos, some recited old Armenian poetry and it was all very theatrical and interesting. Armine told me that after the earthquake Armenians seemed to develop a need to be noticed.

When it was all over I gave Ani her first piano lesson. It went well, although I had way too many helpers hovering around. She is a serene and precious angel, and she'll do well, and I think she's used to chaos. Armenians aren't used to privacy. The Church has developed a very good keyboard course and I'm going to try to make good use of it. Thanks, Mom, for piano lessons----they're finally paying off.