Papier D’Armenie

Papier d’Arménie, or Armenian Paper, is a room deodorizer made of sheets of paper, which are coated with the dried sap of styrax trees. At the end of the 19th century, Auguste Ponsot discovered that Armenian households would burn Styrax as a fragrance and disinfectant. M. Ponsot adopted this habit with the help of the pharmacist Henri Rivier, whereby benzoin resin was dissolved in alcohol, then infused onto a blotting paper support. The “alchemy” inherent in Papier d’Arménie became a huge success with the emerging importance of hygiene from 1888–1889, and has been steadily produced in Montrouge, France since 1885.

Glendale Schools to Close April 24

Source: http://asbarez.com/110180/glendale-schools-to-close-on-april-24/

Glendale Unified School District

GLENDALE—The Glendale Unified School District Board on May 16 announced that beginning in 2014, all schools will be closed on April 24 “out of respect for the large Armenian community in Glendale and La Crescenta.

“With this agreement on next year’s calendar, we are meeting the needs of our students, employees and community simultaneously,” said Board President Nayiri Nahabedian, who added that the decision accommodates the commemoration of the Armenian Genocide.

“This is truly an important milestone for the Armenian-Americans living in Glendale. I’d like to thank GTA and all the GUSD board members along with the administration for their mutual agreement in this matter,” said newly-elected Board member Dr. Armina Gharpetian.

“It is at this juncture that we, as a district, take a moment to honor those who perished in the first genocide of the 20th Century, and, in doing so, acknowledge the genocides which tragically followed in all corners of the world. Armenians, like so many other immigrants, have found refuge and hope in the United States,” said Board member Greg Krikorian.

The Armenian National Committee of America – Glendale welcomed the Glendale Unified School District announcement that it had reached an agreement with the Glendale Teachers Association on designating April 24, 2014 as a student free/non-work day.

“We commend the Glendale Unified School District and the Glendale Teachers Association on their willingness to support the desire of their students to properly pay tribute to the victims of the Armenian Genocide without having to be absent from classes,” stated ANCA-Glendale Chairman Berdj Karapetian.

The ANCA-Glendale Education Committee chairperson Hilma Balaian thanked the School Board members for their leadership and efforts to find a solution that addresses the needs of the students, community, employees, and administration.

Balaian added that a large number of students and employees have been absent or taken time off in the past when April 24 has fallen on an instructional day.

Karapetian encouraged community members to attend next week’s School Board meeting to express their appreciation to the Board members, administration, teachers, and other employees of the GUSD.

The ANCA-Glendale advocates for the social, economic, cultural, and political rights of the city’s Armenian American community and promotes increased civic participation at the grassroots and public policy levels.

Emmanuel Kant on Armenians

In these Armenians rules a strange trading spirit, one where they are involved in commerce` travelling from the borders of China to the shores of Guinea where Crusoe’s shelter lies. This presents a rather intelligent and industrious people with unique roots, a people who can move from North to East and South to West within the old world and find genuine hospitality in whatever region they decide to stop in.

Marten Yorgantz- A Childhood Favourite

Born June 24, 1946, in what is known today as Istanbul, Marten Yorgantz is a popular French-Armenian singer and composer. He is recognized as the most popular Armenian singer in Europe with over a thousand songs sung in over 10 languages.

After the Earthquake in Armenia, he gave 100 concerts benefiting the children and families affected. 

He has recorded 24 albums in different languages, mostly in Armenian, Italian and French. Among his well-known hits are “Chkuytik”, “Hayi Achker”, “Hayeren Ergenk”, “Ayp, Pen, Kim”, “Ay Maral Maral”, “Partir pour ne plus revenir” and others.

In 1974, he opens his 1st restarant in Paris called “Cappadocia”, followed by a 2nd to the chain just outside of the city in Alford. In 1980 he opened his 3rd restaurant on Saint Germain des Prés, in the heart of Paris so as to attract more local celebrities, called “Restaurant Yorgantz”.  Within the last 10 years, he also opened his latest restaurant, known as “Chez Yorgantz”, where both Italian and Armenian delicacies are served as he entertains with a pianist and guitarist by his side. To this day, Yorgantz will sing for concerts, dances and other festivities, alongside his constant appearance at piano bars around the city.

Legend of Moush

There was a city on the Aratsani River where people used to quarrel among themselves. They were arrogant and remained enslaved by their morose vanity. Pride prevented them from forming impartial opinions, even about themselves.

All they did from dawn until dusk was argue and lecture one another, finding faults without reason. When disputes flared up to the point of a full fledged fight, the Armenian goddess of wisdom, Nane, came to the people’s aid. She would send such a thick blanket of fog over the entire city, so that the people caught in it could not see anything around them. In the end, they were forced to stop shouting their threats and insults into the white nothingness.

“You just wait!” they would cry. “As soon as the fog lifts we’ll continue our discussion!”

But the fog floated over the city like a cloud, thick and slow. The fog lasted until the irreconcilable wranglers forgot their grievances and a peacefully tranquil life returned to the city. The wise Nane did that quite frequently. She would cover the city in mist as if calling people to righteousness. And eventually she succeeded! The people of the city became quiet, polite and attentive to each other. They even learned to enjoy the frequent fogs.

Because of these fogs the city became known as Mshoush and a few centuries later it was shortened to Moush.