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'GAR OO CHGAR': KASBARIAN SPEAKS AT HMADS
Armenian Weekly
Thu, Oct 27 2011
OAKLAND GARDENS, N.Y.-On Wed., Oct. 12, as part of month-long events
dedicated to the creation of the Armenian alphabet by Mesrob Mashdots,
the Holy Martyrs Armenian Day School (HMADS) invited speaker Lucine
Kasbarian, the author of Armenia: A Rugged Land, An Enduring People,
to introduce her latest book, The Greedy Sparrow. Retold by Kasbarian
in English, the tale of the sparrow has been a part of the Armenian
oral tradition for centuries, and was first written down by Hovhannes
Toumanian.
Kasbarian came dressed in traditional Armenian garb and truly
captivated the students as she read from her book.
Kasbarian came dressed in traditional Armenian garb and truly
captivated the students as she read from her book and later talked
to them about immersion ("Yes, you can be both Armenian and American
in this world"), the preservation of our identity, and how unique our
ethnic rituals are. She asked, "How can we reclaim and preserve some
of our customs? Can we feel closer to our ancestors because of it? In
what way can we truly honor them?" By attending Armenian schools,
enjoying the instructions of their Armenian teachers, learning and
singing Armenian music, and going to dance classes, was the response.
She credited her great-grandmother and father for enriching her life
and introducing her to Armenian fables and folktales. The children
then heard her father's voice on tape retelling the story of "The
Greedy Sparrow" in his Dikranagerd dialect.
Most fables begin with "Gar oo chgar" (or, "Once there was and was
not"), but they also carry a profound message or lesson that still
applies in modern times.
This heart-warming event concluded with the author signing copy after
copy of her book, while her numerous admirers waited impatiently.
In a special program to be held on Mon., Oct. 24, HMADS students will
honor Mesrob Mashdots, Sahag Bartev, King Vramshabuh and the Holy
Translators through songs and recitations from Missak Medsarents on
his 125th anniversary.
For more information about HMADS, the first Armenian elementary day
school on the East Coast, visit www.hmads.org.
Armenian Weekly
Thu, Oct 27 2011
OAKLAND GARDENS, N.Y.-On Wed., Oct. 12, as part of month-long events
dedicated to the creation of the Armenian alphabet by Mesrob Mashdots,
the Holy Martyrs Armenian Day School (HMADS) invited speaker Lucine
Kasbarian, the author of Armenia: A Rugged Land, An Enduring People,
to introduce her latest book, The Greedy Sparrow. Retold by Kasbarian
in English, the tale of the sparrow has been a part of the Armenian
oral tradition for centuries, and was first written down by Hovhannes
Toumanian.
Kasbarian came dressed in traditional Armenian garb and truly
captivated the students as she read from her book.
Kasbarian came dressed in traditional Armenian garb and truly
captivated the students as she read from her book and later talked
to them about immersion ("Yes, you can be both Armenian and American
in this world"), the preservation of our identity, and how unique our
ethnic rituals are. She asked, "How can we reclaim and preserve some
of our customs? Can we feel closer to our ancestors because of it? In
what way can we truly honor them?" By attending Armenian schools,
enjoying the instructions of their Armenian teachers, learning and
singing Armenian music, and going to dance classes, was the response.
She credited her great-grandmother and father for enriching her life
and introducing her to Armenian fables and folktales. The children
then heard her father's voice on tape retelling the story of "The
Greedy Sparrow" in his Dikranagerd dialect.
Most fables begin with "Gar oo chgar" (or, "Once there was and was
not"), but they also carry a profound message or lesson that still
applies in modern times.
This heart-warming event concluded with the author signing copy after
copy of her book, while her numerous admirers waited impatiently.
In a special program to be held on Mon., Oct. 24, HMADS students will
honor Mesrob Mashdots, Sahag Bartev, King Vramshabuh and the Holy
Translators through songs and recitations from Missak Medsarents on
his 125th anniversary.
For more information about HMADS, the first Armenian elementary day
school on the East Coast, visit www.hmads.org.