Russian trace of holidays (video)
Non-working days were stressful for the Armenian economy. During New Year holidays state structures and banks didn’t operate. Should Armenia afford to have 9-day holidays? It was the first question of this year’s first session of the Government. “By the way, weren’t there too many non-working days? Let’s discuss it with the society, maybe we can find a solution,” said Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan. New Year holidays are a good opportunity to have a rest after hard working year. Nevertheless, long rest results not only in positive consequences. After long holidays resuming active work causes stress. People still bear in mind their carless days, but the present is already full of problems. “Even for those, who do not work on weekend, Monday becomes a difficult day. And 10-15 days’ New Year holiday demands more adaptation,” says psychologist Mihrdat Madatyan. Psychologist is for limiting New Year holidays. But he warns that it will cause resistance among Armenians, who got used to long holidays. He advises starting from making New Year holidays non-obligatory. “Initially it should be done on voluntary basis. Look, Prime Minister urged some state structures and banks to resume their work earlier, but those banks didn’t do it. It should be done in a more flexible way, so that ordinary citizens stay at home, but understand that they are at home, but out of game , as other people go to work, but they remained around gastronomic tables,” says Mihrdat Madatyan. The psychologist cannot understand the tradition of celebrating January 14 as a holiday. Celebrating Old New Year has a Russian trace and dates back to 1918. Russian church didn’t shift to Gregorian calendar, celebrating religious holidays by Julian calendar. During the Soviet era this tradition passed to other countries. After independence, some countries, including Armenia, maintained Russian tradition. Watch the video for more details!
