Instead of st Valentine's Day
Post categories: Student blog
| 15:49 UK time, Thursday, 30 August 2012
Today I want tp tell you about another Armenian tradition. We have st. Sarkis's (Sargis's) day in Armenia. This is the day of lovers and young people. This is also beautiful tradition in Armenia. Let start.
There is an interesting story (maybe it is legent maybe true) about st. Sarkis. It cames from ancient times. In the beginning of telling you can see when Sarkis cames to Armenia. It sounds like this:
Captain St. Sarkis is one of the most beloved saints among the Armenian nation. He faith for christianity and with his sun lived in Armenia. They lived in the time of Armenian well-known king Tigran.
There are an interesting traditions in Armenia related to this holiday. The night before St. Sarkis Day, the teenagers go to church, firmly keeping an "Aghi plit" (salty cookie) in their pockets, which must be eaten before going to sleep (and they may not drink water). The salty cookie will make them thirsty and in their dreams whoever offers them a drink of water, will be their future husband or wife.
To be honest I must write down about Armenian church opinion. The church, however, does not connect folklore with the real significance of the holiday.
"St. Sarkis is an ideology, which appeals to have devotion and love towards God and religion. We should study from St. Sarkis to love our God and other people, but first of all, other people, because only in this case we can unconditionally love God, too, who is not visible."
The priest says that the Church does not encourage eating salty flatcakes, however, it does ban it either. "The church does not prohibit its children to be happy: if you want to eat salty cookies and be happy, do it!"
On the night preceding the feast of St. Sarkis faithful people place a tray full of gruel before the door believing that while passing near their door at dawn St. Sarkis will leave his footprint on the gruel symbolising the fulfillment of their dreams.
Also young lovers write love msgs' to each other and some lovers make their love proposal :) This is not only tradition, this is romantic day, during which you can get interesting msgs', balloons like heard and many other interesting things.
There is also sweets receipt :) We make sweets for st. Sarkis day. Try make it yourself. This one called "Halva"
Halva
3 C White granulated sugar
4 T Water
1 T Lemon juice
1 T Flower-water (orange blossom)
1 - 7oz Jar of marshmallow creme
2 lb Sesame seeds divided 1/3 and 2/3 (refrigerated)
Filling: walnuts or pistachios as needed.
Directions:
Prepare a sheet pan with a mound of 2/3 of the sesame seeds
Bring first four ingredients to a boil until the mixture turns to a golden color.
Mix in marshmallow, remove from heat and pour onto sesame seeds.
Spread the mixture adding more of the cool sesame seeds as needed to keep from adhering to hands or spatula.
Invert the complete sheet of sesame covered mixture onto a flat work surface.
Moving quickly to prevent the sheet from getting hard, add filling (walnuts, pistachios, etc...) and roll. Cut 1.5 inches apart and refrigerate.
Another one is Kumba cake. Try to cook :)
KUMBA Cake
5 cups of all-purpose flour
1 cup of olive oil
1 cup of boiling water
1 cup of sugar
½ cup of honey
1 cup of chopped nuts (walnut, almond, pistachio, hazelnut)
½ cup of raisins
2 teaspoons of baking powder
1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon of ground cardamom
½ teaspoon of ground nutmeg
½ teaspoon of ground mahlab
a coin, wrapped in foil
½ cup of white sesame seeds for the top
1. If you desire, roast the flour, until it turns to pale. Mix the flour, sugar, baking powder and the spices.
2. Add the oil & boiling water, stir until a thick dough is formed.
3. Add the honey, nuts & raisins.
4. Spread the dough in a large non-stick pan. Put the wrapped coin in it & cover with dough.
5. Dip your hands in water and smooth out the surface of the dough.
6. Sprinkle the sesame seeds on the surface.
7. Bake Kumba at 350° F, about 25-30 minutes, until golden brown.
Zibaxa
Comment number 1.
At 30th Aug 2012, Elmansour wrote:Hello Zibaxa,
Thank you for sharing with us st. Sarkis's (Sargis's) tradition in Armenia. Thanks also for the sweets recipe. Congratulations for your clear ideas and for your good English. Actually we would like to know so many other things about your country, but August has come to an end and unfortunately it may be no longer possible.
Good luck
Elmansour
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Comment number 2.
At 31st Aug 2012, Omar wrote:Hello Zibaxa, thank you for sharing this interesting tradition, could you tell us when do you celebrate this St. Sarkis Day? it's more genuine and less commercial than St. Valentine. I don't like St. Valentine, but i can put a reminder on my calendar to remember this armenian tradition, just as a chance to do something sweet for my wife!
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Comment number 3.
At 31st Aug 2012, mohamed wrote:Good morning Zabaxa! this is my first connection with blogger's world on ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½L after months of apsent . But your entries keept me to stay and read them totally ;because the style which you use to give us un intereting sight about your country and their tradition was amusing .Your entries lead me to read all comments and the interesting Carrie's entries which are very sueful .All that keepts me refollowing ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½L
thanks mohame Agadir
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Comment number 4.
At 31st Aug 2012, Ana Paula wrote:Hello Zibaxa! I really enjoyed reading your blog about Armenian traditions and the recipes you posted sounds delicious! It's been a while since I dared entered in the kitchen to prepare a dish, though I used to enjoy myself when I baked cakes for my Saturday afternoon teas... Well, nowadays I only prepare noodles... maybe I'll try to cook one of the recipes you posted :-).
All the best,
Ana Paula, Brazil.
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Comment number 5.
At 2nd Sep 2012, Pary wrote:Hi Zibaxa ,
Thank you for your great Blogs and specially the recipes . Mind you I live in Iran . We do bake Halva but I think ingredients is a a bit different . Nowadays many people from my country visit your country as a tourist . Who knows one day maybe I visit it too ;) then I will remember you . Again a pat on the back for you ...you did a great job
So long
Pary from Iran ( Ardebil)
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Comment number 6.
At 3rd Sep 2012, zibaxa wrote:Dear Elmansour
You are one of my lovely readers. Maybe some day I would write a blog at blogpost aout Armenia. Hope you will read it. Also you can contact me on yahoo, using the same ID which I have here ;)
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Comment number 7.
At 3rd Sep 2012, zibaxa wrote:Dear Omar
There is no special day for st. Sarkis, it is movable day and it has 20 days periodicity. Every year our church desides when it will be :) You can follow from the end of January to the end of February
Zibaxa
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Comment number 8.
At 3rd Sep 2012, zibaxa wrote:Hello mohamed
Thank you for your kind words. You make me smile :) I like your comments too. ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ for english learners is a good web site and it helps me very well.
Hope you will improve your english with me
Zibaxa
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Comment number 9.
At 3rd Sep 2012, zibaxa wrote:Hi Ana Paula
How are you? Thank you for your comment. I hope you like my reciepts.
Greetings for Armenia
Zibaxa
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Comment number 10.
At 4th Sep 2012, zibaxa wrote:Hello Pary
I know that in Iran also cooking Halva. Our sweets a bit are same :) Because we are near :) And yes, some people of your country coming to mine as atourist and as a student.
Thank you for your comment
Zibaxa
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Comment number 11.
At 9th Sep 2012, Winnie Wii wrote:Hmmmm.. I really like cakes and this one looks amazing! I just need to find something to use instead mahlab and cardamom, because I don't think I'll find it here (Brazil). What do you recommend?
Thank you for the recipe and for the great story ;-)
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Comment number 12.
At 29th Jan 2013, chiarauk wrote:Hi Zibaxa!
I really enjoyed reading your post! It has brought back to me a piece of my childhood.
It happened about 15 years ago in Sicily where there is a nice tradition for the day of St John (san Giovanni). On the 24th of June young girls have the chance to find out some information about their future husband. For every girl, the wax of a candle is melted in the water of a little pot, then it is taken and put on a table with the surface that was in the water on the top. According to the sicilian tradition, in the forms of the melted wax people can read the characteristics of the future man, his job, his personality or his family.
I don't remember the form of my wax but it was a very special family moment!
Did St Sarkis's tradition work for you?
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