Armenian Independence Day Festival (Summer 08)

Niyiri Manougian
niyirianaghchig@netscape.net

Do street festivals aid in bringing a community together? Yes, since the setting of the festivals in the streets makes them more of a public event where anyone can walk in and not feel like they are imposing. A stroll through the street where the festival is occurring doesn’t commit you to being part of that festival, and yet allows you to experience it.

Hollywood Boulevard—between Vermont and Alexandria—was closed off to accommodate the Armenian Independence Day Festival on Sunday, June first. The location of the event is part of what is now officially termed by the city as Little Armenia, for its large population of Armenian inhabitants and businesses.

The event boasts a sampling of Armenian culture. Anyone walking through finds themselves surrounded by Armenian food—including but not limited to the famous kabob—live Armenian music, and shourch bars, the Armenian folk dances.

There is also a separate Kids Zone, which in the past has included a petting zoo, and various games and rides. In the past the Kids Zone has also had a separate stage, where performers of children’s songs have come in to entertain the toddlers with music that caters to their own acquired tastes.

This year will be the third year that this festival is taking place. The event has been expanded due to large enthusiasm from the public. The grander scale of the event is also in part possible because of corporate and community sponsors. Los Angles City Council President Eric Garcetti is also a co-sponsor of the event. His district encompasses Little Armenia.

In the past, "thousands of participants and dignitaries who have attended the festival in previous years include Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, and Members of Congress, the State Senate and Assembly" (www.littlearmeniafestival.com).

The Armenian Independence Day Festival Committee, a committee designated to the planning and implementation of the festival under the umbrella of the Armenian Cultural Foundation is responsible for bringing to life the Annual Armenian Festival in Little Armenia for the past two years and the upcoming event this year.

But the Armenian Independence Day Festival Committee does not work alone. Though they may be responsible for overseeing the event, there are many other Armenian organizations: "Armenian community organizations including the Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Armenian Youth Federation, Hamazkayin Armenian Cultural and Educational Society, Armenian Relief Society, Shant Student Association, Armenian General Athletic Union and Scouts (Homenetmen), the Armenian National Committee Western Region, among others come together to celebrate Armenian culture and history, by remembering May 28, 1918, Armenia’s first independence day" (www.littlearmeniafestival.com).

This festival is unique not only because of its grand scale—it is also a celebration that unites not only the Armenian community, but also to a larger extent the other local cultural communities. It is open to everyone, and people of different backgrounds come to enjoy the good food, live entertainment, and spend some time with their families or friends.

"This is truly a memorable event that thousands of community members look forward to and return to year after year. It is a unique opportunity to commemorate a milestone in Armenian history and to showcase the cultural wealth of the Armenian people," said Saro Shirinian, Festival Committee Chairperson.

Many local non-Armenians know by now about the Armenian Genocide. This event is a chance for the non-Armenian neighbors to learn about the Armenian community outside of the 1915 Genocide events.

"May 28, 1918 marks the first independence of the Armenian republic after 600 years of Ottoman Turkish oppression. The republic established on this date set the foundation for today’s independent republic of Armenia, which was born on September 21, 1991" (www.littlearmeniafestival.com). Armenia was one of the first countries to declare independence from the former Soviet Union.

But the Little Armenia Festival is not only meant to celebrate one day in the history of the Armenian people. It displays over 3,000 years of history and culture not only through music and food, but also through different exhibits and booths.

Some exhibits and booths are there for educational purposes. They are usually sponsored by different Armenian organizations.

There are other booths that also provide different information about the different aspects of being part of the Armenian culture. Though many Armenians can benefit from perusing these exhibits to refresh their memory, these booths are also there to educate the broader local community about Armenian history and culture. After all, understanding a neighbor’s culture is a way to better understand the individual. And by better understanding each other’s cultures, the local communities that are populated with individuals of different backgrounds, will function more smoothly.

The festival did not end with people leaving. A bit of it could be taken home to be shared in the form of packaged nuts, dried fruit and jewelry sold at the booths.