Angela (host sister) and Arthur's Wedding 25 June

This was the most celebratory wedding I've ever attended. I was honored to be able to participate in it. Angela and Arthur are both chemists. Angela has received a full ride scholarship to do a summer chemistry program in Finland, then they will both go to Germany to earn their Ph.D.s. My host father Araik is an engineer, but as a result of the post-earthquake economic decline, he now drives taxi for a living. My host mother Silva is a mathemetician. She used to work at a geological institute, where she met Araik, but now she works part time at a telephone booth. My other host sister, Anna, works in the VIP section of the airport, where she gives special attention to government officials, celebrities, and anyone willing to spend $42 for VIP service.

In the picture below, you can see that Silva, with the help of her mother Margarite who was in town for the wedding, has prepared a beautiful table for the pre-wedding event. She was dancing and singing the day before and the day of the wedding-- a very expressive, kind and loving woman. See her in the background dancing?

Anna doing her mother's hair.
At 2pm the groom's family showed up. Their arrival was announced with exciting music, dancing and the waving of scarves in the air. They marched in, sat down and the toasts began! Russian vodka and Armenian brandy poured forth from this point onward...

This is the oldest church in Yerevan, I think. Couples are married here one after the other. The actual ceremony only lasts about 15 minutes. No pics from inside because I was busy videotaping.

Waiting for our turn. Datik (grandma) is to the left of Sylvie holding the white purse.

Sylvie's affection for her eldest daughter is so apparent. She had tears in her eyes periodically throughout the day.

After the ceremony in the church, our entourage circled Republic Square 3 times, honking our horns and waving out the windows. That's on video too. Then we arrived at the groom's house around 4:30pm, again, music and dancing announcing the arrival. Arthur's grandmother put lavash (traditional tortilla-like bread) over Angela's shoulder to symbolize prosperity for the couple (or maybe the fact that she's expected to do all the cookin'?). Grandma also gave her a spoonful of honey (actually it was jam b/c Angela doesn't like honey) to symbolize something. I was busy videotaping. Neighbors gathered and watched the excitement. We marched up 4 flights of stairs, into a small room, where the tables were all set and ready, just like at Sylvie's house. Notice the lavash on the table. It's folded here, but when unfolded each piece is about 24 inches by 24 inches.

The big difference at this meal was that shishkabob (bbq'd on skewers)-- lamb, pork, beef, and fish was served, plate after plate. Araik, my host father, began the toasts. I soon learned that it would be only one of many many of his toasts. With every toast, everyone must drink. The ladies have perfected the art of pretending. :-) Not a single shot glass sits empty-- someone's always monitoring who needs a refill.

Angela was good about only pretending to drink most of her shots upon every toast.

The bride and me.

My favorite host cousin Anahit. She sings in the Armenian philharmonic choir for a living and has promised to allow me to videotape her playing the piano and singing in our house.

The view from Arthur's family's house.

We returned home at 12:30am. About 5 guests stayed with us. They wanted to watch the whole thing all over again on the video I took. It turned out great. The next morning Arthur's family arrived with a gift. The tradition is they bring a red apple which symbolizes the bride was indeed a virgin (some women still undergo re-virginizing cosmetic surgery before their wedding night). Sylvie said "they've come to tell us that our girl is a very good, very beautiful girl."

Now Angela lives with Arthur and his entire family. She called the next day, happy but at the same time in tears. It's a big adjustment. She misses home and Sylvie and Anna miss her terribly. She's only 45 min. away, but still....