People in Javakheti, a predominantly-Armenian-populated part of Georgia’s southeastern Samtskhe-Javakheti Province, wait and prepare for the New Year with great pleasure, and the belief that success and goodness will prevail in the coming year.
The ceremony of “cleaning” is one of the most important traditions of Javakheti Armenians, in the lead-up to the New Year. They clean their houses, yards and barns, and all family members chip in; this cleaning symbolizes a new and fresh beginning for the coming year.
Subsequently, the woman of the house prepares the food for the New Year table, which has to be abundant.
New Year’s Eve is the favorite time of the children in Javakheti. All the house yards must be illuminated, and their gates must be open at that night. Children wearing masks go from house to house, express well wishes, and collect nuts, raisins, candies, and fruits in their bags. In return, they put grains at the doorsteps of these houses, and wish an abundant and successful year.
Cutting a round cake and distributing its pieces among the family members is a key New Year midnight tradition in Javakheti. The woman of the house puts a coin inside this cake, and the family member that gets the piece with this coin is considered to be the most successful one in the new year.
From January 1 to the Armenian Old New Year on January 13, Javakheti Armenians go from house to house, give presents to their neighbors and relatives, and extend them well wishes around the New Year holiday table. But those that have lost a loved one in the year that passed do not go anywhere as guests; they solely visit the grave this loved one, on January 1.
Who will be their first guest in the New Year is also very important for Javakheti Armenians. If this guest is a good and successful person, he is believed to bring along kindness and success for the year. But even if the first guest in the New Year is an unwelcome person, he is received and seen off with warmth, and with the expectation that this person will not be the first guest in the next New Year.
