| Armenians have their own distinctive alphabet | | | | |
| and language. The alphabet was invented in | | | | The American University of Armenia has |
| 405 AD by Saint Mesrob Mashtots and consists | | | | graduate programs in Business and Law, among |
| of thirty-eight letters, two of which were | | | | others. The institution owes its existence to |
| added during the Cilician period. 96% of the | | | | the combined efforts of the Government of |
| people in the country speak Armenian, while | | | | Armenia, the Armenian General Benevolent |
| 75.8% of the population additionally speaks | | | | Union, U.S. Agency for International |
| Russian although English is becoming | | | | Development, and the University of |
| increasingly popular. | | | | California. The extension programs and the |
| | | | library at AUA form a new focal point for |
| Music and the arts | | | | English-language intellectual life in the |
| | | | city. |
| The National Art Gallery in Yerevan has more | | | | |
| than 16,000 works that date back to the | | | | The members of the nu-metal band System of a |
| Middle Ages. The Modern Art Museum, the | | | | Down are all of Armenian descent, although |
| Children’s Picture Gallery, and the | | | | only bassist Shavo Odadjian is from the |
| Martiros Saryan Museum are only a few of the | | | | country. |
| other noteworthy collections. Moreover, many | | | | |
| private galleries are in operation, with many | | | | Hospitality and wedding ceremonies |
| more opening each year. They feature rotating | | | | |
| exhibitions and sales. | | | | Armenian hospitality is legendary and stems |
| | | | from ancient tradition. Social gatherings |
| The Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra performs | | | | focused around sumptuous presentations of |
| at the refurbished city Opera House. In | | | | course after course of elaborately prepared |
| addition, several chamber ensembles are | | | | and well-seasoned food. The hosts will often |
| highly regarded for their musicianship, | | | | put morsels on a guest's plate whenever it is |
| including the National Chamber Orchestra of | | | | empty or fill his or her glass when it gets |
| Armenia and the Serenade Orchestra. Classical | | | | low. After a helping or two it is acceptable |
| music can also be heard at one of several | | | | to refuse politely or, more simply, just |
| smaller venues, including the Yerevan Komitas | | | | leave a little uneaten food. Alcohol such as |
| State Conservatory and the Chamber Orchestra | | | | cognac, vodka, and red wine are usually |
| Hall. Jazz is popular, especially in the | | | | served during meals and gatherings. It is |
| summer when live performances are a regular | | | | considered rare and unusual for one to go |
| occurrence at one of the city’s many | | | | inside an Armenian household and not be |
| outdoor cafés. | | | | offered coffee, pastry, food, or even water. |
| | | | |
| Yerevan’s Vernisage (arts and crafts | | | | The elaborate Armenian wedding process begins |
| market), close to Republic Square, bustles | | | | when the man and woman are "promised". The |
| with hundreds of vendors selling a variety of | | | | man's immediate family (parents, |
| crafts on weekends and Wednesdays (though the | | | | grandparents, and often uncles and aunts) go |
| selection is much reduced mid-week). The | | | | over to the woman's house to ask for |
| market offers woodcarving, antiques, fine | | | | permission from the woman's father for the |
| lace, and the hand-knotted wool carpets and | | | | relationship to continue and hopefully |
| kilims that are a Caucasus specialty. | | | | prosper. Once permission is granted by the |
| Obsidian, which is found locally, is crafted | | | | father, the man gives the woman a "promise |
| into assortment of jewelry and ornamental | | | | ring" to make it official. To celebrate the |
| objects. Armenian gold smithery enjoys a long | | | | mutual family agreement, the woman's family |
| tradition, populating one corner of the | | | | opens a bottle of Armenian cognac. After |
| market with a selection of gold items. Soviet | | | | being promised, most families elect to have a |
| relics and souvenirs of recent Russian | | | | semi-large engagement party as well. The |
| manufacture—nesting dolls, watches, | | | | girl's family is the one who plans, organises |
| enamel boxes and so on, are also available at | | | | and pays for the party. There is very little |
| the Vernisage. | | | | involvement by the man's family. At the |
| | | | party, a priest is summoned to pray for the |
| Across from the Opera House, a popular art | | | | soon-to-be husband and wife and give his |
| market fills another city park on the | | | | blessings. Once the words of prayer have |
| weekends. Armenia’s long history as a | | | | concluded, the couple slide wedding bands on |
| crossroads of the ancient world has resulted | | | | each other's right hands (the ring is moved |
| in a landscape with innumerable fascinating | | | | to the left hand once a formal marriage |
| archaeological sites to explore. Medieval, | | | | ceremony is conducted by the Armenian |
| Iron Age, Bronze Age and even Stone Age sites | | | | church). The customary time to wait for the |
| are all within a few hours drive from the | | | | marriage is about one year. Unlike in other |
| city. All but the most spectacular remain | | | | cultures, the man and his family pay for the |
| virtually undiscovered, allowing visitors to | | | | wedding. The planning and organization |
| view churches and fortresses in their | | | | process is usually done by the bride and |
| original settings. | | | | groom to be. |