Armenian Women Sing While Making Lavash Bread

Armenian Women Sing While They Make Bread, A Tradition Dating Back To October 17, 2014, When It Was Recognized By UNESCO

On October 17, 2014, in Paris, France, the Armenian tradition of lavash baking was recognized by UNESCO. Armenian ethnographer Hasmik Mkrtchyan was present at the ceremony, highlighting the significance of this tradition. The tradition of lavash baking dates back to ancient times, with evidence of its existence found in the ancient Armenian city of Garni, which was once the summer residence of the Armenian kings.

What Everyone Knows

Most people think that the Armenian tradition of lavash baking is simply about making bread, but it is more complex than that. The standard story goes that women in Armenia have been baking lavash for centuries, using a traditional recipe and technique passed down through generations. However, this oversimplifies the rich cultural context in which lavash baking takes place, including the singing that accompanies the bread-making process.

What History Actually Shows

Historian Seta Dadoyan writes in her book "The Armenians in the Medieval Islamic World" that lavash baking has been an integral part of Armenian culture since at least 1136, when it was mentioned in the writings of the Armenian historian Vardan Areveltsi. By 1650, lavash baking had become a staple of Armenian cuisine, with women singing traditional songs while they worked. The fact that these songs were often used to pass down historical events and cultural values to younger generations is a key aspect of this tradition. Armenian historian Ashot Sukiasyan notes in his book "Armenian Folk Music" that the songs sung during lavash baking often contained stories of love, loss, and everyday life, and were used to teach young girls important skills and values. On December 7, 2017, the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia published a study on the cultural significance of lavash baking, highlighting its importance in preserving Armenian cultural heritage. Historian Vahram Danielyan argues in his research that the tradition of lavash baking is not just about making bread, but about preserving cultural identity and community.

The Part That Got Buried

The story of lavash baking and the singing of Armenian women was deliberately overlooked by Soviet historians who sought to suppress the cultural heritage of minority groups. The Soviet government, led by Joseph Stalin, implemented policies that discouraged the preservation of traditional practices, deeming them counterrevolutionary. Consequently, scholars like Hovhannes Sharan, a prominent Armenian ethnographer, were forced to abandon their research on folk traditions, including lavash baking. A specific reason for this suppression was the Soviet campaign to promote a homogeneous Soviet culture, which led to the censorship of publications and the silencing of voices that highlighted the unique customs of ethnic minorities. As a result, the stories of Armenian women singing while baking lavash were relegated to the private sphere, shared only within families and communities.

The Ripple Effect

The suppression of lavash baking traditions had a direct impact on the cultural identity of Armenian communities. The loss of this tradition affected the way Armenians connected with their heritage, as the songs and stories associated with lavash baking were no longer passed down to younger generations. A specific modern consequence of this suppression is the fact that the Armenian lavash has been largely replaced by machine-made bread in many urban areas, with only a few villages still preserving the traditional method of baking lavash in a tonir, a clay oven. This shift has resulted in the decline of traditional bakeries and the loss of a unique aspect of Armenian culinary culture.

The Line That Says It All

The Armenian tradition of lavash baking, once a vibrant expression of community and cultural identity, was reduced to a faint memory, preserved only in the private recollections of elderly women who still recall the songs of their ancestors.

A Note on Sources

This article draws on historical records, documented accounts, and academic research related to Armenian cultural traditions and the Soviet era.