Ethnographer Hranoush Kharatyan stated at a press conference today that present-day Armenians merely mark New Years by gorging themselves at the holiday table and that the country has forgotten how to properly celebrate the holiday. “We have a problem with holidays. New Years especially has no underlying significance for our people,” she argued. “Armenians compensate their lack of enthusiasm by gathering around a table chocked full of goodies.” Simon Yerevantsi, another commentator, said that the New Year should be marked on January 6, i.e. Armenian Christmas. He noted that in the past there were two separate New Year’s holidays – Navasard (Gaghant) and New Years. The present tradition of celebrating New Year’s on January 1 is only 100 years old, Simon Yerevantsi said. Hranoush Kharatyan argued that holiday tables replete with expensive food and drink were particular to poor and not well-off societies, and that this was the case in Armenia. She faulted those Armenians for whom having a full holiday table had turned into a sort of social competition and sign of respect.