File 5655/1918 Pt 2 'Mesopotamia: Refugee Camp at Baqubah (1920 – papers)' [‎451v] (913/946)

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Armenian songs are generally songs of praise to triumphs and feats of Armenian young men.
The song of Konosor is one of them. About 22 years ago on the 25th of July, Armenian revolution
ary troops surrounded a Kurdish tribe which had been terrifying the Armenians in the district.
The tribe was annihilated in 24 hours. Accordingly the feat is commemorated yearly by a festival.
Many of the Armenian songs are mournful as a result of massacres and oppression In these
they invite the young men to take revenge. Here is a stanza taken from their present National
Anthem :—“ Our homes miserable and helpless, lie under the heel of our enemies, She (the nation)
calls to her children to take revenge. ”
5. RELIGIOUS FESTIVALS.
New Year's Day. —This is a great day for the children, who receive presents from their parents
and relatives on the Eve of New Year’s day. It is a very happy time for all, near relations gathering
together and holding a great banquet. A sad topic must on no account be mentioned*in case the
coming year should be influenced that way. The (banquet continues until sunrise, when healths are
drunk, each wishing the other good health and prosperity.
Forty days after Christmas, all children born before that date, and all married couples must go
to church. In the evening they must all ascend to the roof of the house, where a large fire is made
ready, and they with their neighbours commence dancing around it. This is supposed to herald
the advent of Jesus Christ.
Carnival .—Five days before Lent, the Armenian nation has to commemorate the battle fought
between Persians and Armenians, by Vartan Mamigonian. Special service is held in the church and
in the evening the people commence a banquet and celebration which lasts for five days.
Great Easter Day .—This is a great day in every family. On the eve of Easter day every
Armenian must go to church, when the Book of Daniel is read. This is a compulsory service. On
Easter morning they must go to church again, after which, visiting relatives, friends and neighbours
is the order of the day, in order to greet the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Every family prepares
eggs coloured red, with which during the coming week, the children play and gamble.
Transfiguration.—To commemorate the Transfiguration of Jesus Christ on the Mount of Olives,
Armenians pour water upon each other on this day.
The Fast of Grapes.—On a certain day called Asdvazasin, grapes are forbidden to be eaten until
consecrated in the Church. It takes place in the beginning of autumn and is also the Mother of
Chiist s day. With the giapes, all other fruit and seeds that are to be sown during the coming
year are conseciated. It is considered that this consecration destroys any disease that might be in
the fruit.
6. THE VAN ARMENIANS—BRIEF REVIEW.
These people, being on the frontier of the Turkish Empire, had the opportunity to revolt
whenever they liked. When pressed by the Turks, they raised weapons and fought them. If
defeat threatened them, they crossed the frontier into Persia.
They are the most turbulent—of all the Armenians. Being surrounded mostly with Kurds,
tlic^y passed theii lives in fighting, and in consequence are not acquainted with European manners
and western civilization. Ihey aie for the most part, even in Van city itself, peasants. A few are
merchants, otheis aie tiadesmen. I he one thing the Van Armenians are famous for, is their
Silversmiths work, which is very good. Very few of them, can read or write their own language.
At the outbreak of war they were quite well aware that the Turks and Kurds would take the
liist oppoitunity to massacre them. Ihey, therefore prepared for this by obtaining weapons, the
Armenian soldiers in the Turkish Army deserting with their rifles. Relation became strained
between the Turks and Armenians and this was brought to a head in April 1915 when the Turks
treacherously muideied an Aimenian leader, Ishgan, consequently they revolted. Communications
weie immediately cut off between the villages of the district and Van city, but volunteers succeeded
m entering the city, where a small force was besieged for about 29 days. Shortly after word came
that the Russians and Armenian volunteers were on their way, and three days after, the Armenian
General, Antramg arrived with Armenian volunteers, and was followed by the Russians. They
advanced to Bitlis which was easily captured. Their stay here was very short however since the
Russians had to retreat. Bitlis, where the people suffered terribly, was evacuated. The people of
Van, however escaped with the troops, some going to the Caucasus, others to Persia. When the
Russians advanced again the people followed them and entered Van. Bolshevism broke out in
the Russian Army, however, discipline was destroyed, and they retired in a disorderly manner,
leaving behind unworkable guns and some ammunition. The Armenians with one battalion of
their own people (known later as the Van rifles), remained at Van, and attempted to reorganize in
a vain endeavom to defend the city. I his battalion rendered valuable services later on but w r as
disbanded shortly after its arrival in Baquba. A terrible struggle for existence went on in Van until
eventually being m danger of being surrounded and totally annihilated, they were forced to
retreat to Persia.