Beloved Armenian Rituals Play Important Role on World Doll Day

The Nuri doll represents the last two of these categories and is considered a salvation to the villagers to provide rain to the thirsty fields and gardens. According to the belief, when people and animals suffer from water scarcity, Nuri cries and her tears soak the soil and the fields come back to life. Early Palm Sunday morning, groups of girls danced and sang with their Nuri dolls, going from house to house. People sprayed water on the dolls through the windows and doors and gave them eggs, bread, or cheese for the children to have a celebration.  If by chance, it rained, the children rejoiced that Nuri heard their prayers and gave them rain.

Another beautiful ritual doll is celebrated on Ascension Day. On the Wednesday prior, girls used to go to the mountains and valleys and collected seven handfuls of water from seven springs, seven petals from seven flowers, and seven stones from seven running waters. They put these items in a special flowerpot with the Vichaki Arus doll on top. They were left outside overnight and brought to the fortune-telling square the next morning. During the Ascension ceremony, girls anxiously awaited their fortunes and gave out wreaths the flowers they collected.

For generations, girls have been enamored with dressing dolls in beautiful clothes.  Many family photos captured from the old days illustrate girls holding their precious dolls who also dressed up for the occasion. Dolls can pose as models to preserve history when dressed in traditional Armenian costumes.

The Armenian Museum of America in Watertown preserves and holds special dolls including this collection that was donated by the family of Socie Kradjian.  Her mother, Lucine Szentendrey, created 47 handmade regional dolls by replicating the “Armenian National Costumes Map, 19th – 1st Quarter of 20th Century” compiled by Arakel Patrik.

Doll expert and Textile Curator at the Armenian Museum of America, Susan Lind-Sinanian, plays an important role in the preservation of Armenian culture through dolls.  She has created intricate costumes including a bride from Akhalzikha, and a Cher doll modeling a traditional Armenian dress from Zankezur.

Like many of the most beautiful values of our culture, Armenian ritual dolls, are on the verge of being forgotten.  Because many of the rituals are no longer alive, many of the accompanying events are also forgotten: songs, dances, food. If the ritual is not performed, dolls are not created.  We must save their existence in the form of knowledge and honor customs such as World Doll Day that remind us of the rich and varied ways to educate and preserve our culture.