LessonsLesson 13

Advent & Christmas · Week 13

Armenian Christmas Traditions

Հայկական Ծնունդի աւանդույթներ

nativityfeast

For younger children (5-6), focus on the vocabulary cards and repetition. For older children (8-10), engage with the discussion questions and encourage them to use the words in sentences.

🙏 Opening Prayer

Have the children say it joyfully.

Ծնունդը քո Սուրբ Ը Տէր, օրհնեա́ մեր տոնը.

Dznoonth ko Soorp eh Der, orhnyal mer donuh.

Your Birth is Holy, Lord, bless our celebration.

📖 This Week's Story

Armenian Christmas is very special — and different from what most of your friends celebrate! We celebrate Christmas on January 6th, not December 25th. This day is called "Soorp Dznunt" — the Holy Birth. On Christmas Eve, families go to a beautiful church service. The church is decorated, candles flicker everywhere, and the choir sings beautiful hymns. After the service, families gather at home for a festive dinner. One special Armenian tradition is that children go door to door singing "Krisdos dzunav yev haytnetsav" — "Christ is born and revealed!" People respond with "Orhnyal eh haytnootyoonun Krisdosee" — "Blessed is the revelation of Christ!"

Key Phrases

Սուրբ Ծնունդ

Soorp Dznunt

Holy Birth (Christmas)

Աւանդույթ

Avandooyt

Tradition

📝 Vocabulary

Աւանդույթ

Avandooyt

Tradition

Singing carols is an Armenian avandooyt.

Երգ

Yerg

Song/Hymn

We sing a beautiful yerg at Christmas.

Տոն

Don

Feast/Celebration

Christmas is a great don.

Ընտանիք

Undaneek

Family

We celebrate with our undaneek.

🎮 Activity

craft

Make a Christmas card in Armenian! Write 'Shnorhavor Soorp Dznunt' (Merry Christmas) on a card and decorate it with drawings of stars and candles.

  1. 1What is your favorite Christmas tradition?
  2. 2What does Christmas mean to your family?

🙏 Closing Prayer

Կրիստոս ծնաւ և հայտնեցաւ. Օրհնեալ է հայտնութիւնը. Ամէն.

Krisdos dznav yev haydnetsav. Orhnyal eh haydnootyoonuh. Amen.

Christ is born and revealed. Blessed is the revelation. Amen.

Want your child to learn Armenian at home?

Try our K-5 curriculum — interactive lessons from alphabet to reading.

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