Merry Christmas to Armenians
Armenians in Turkey have begun Christmas celebrations after seven weeks of preparations.
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Armenians in Turkey began Christmas celebrations last night (January 5) in various parts of the country.
Armenians celebrate Christmas, which they call Surp Dzinunt (the Holy Birth), on January 6. They spend the 50 days before Christmas in preparation, referred to as Hisnag.
A Christmas ceremony in a church in Hatay.
Church members fast on the first, fourth and seventh week of Hisnag. They consume only vegetables and seafood. Every Saturday, a purple candle is lit at sunset, followed by prayers and hymns.
They spend New Year's Eve with their families and visit the graves of their loved ones on January 7. (AÖ/VK)