Armenian COOKING CLASS & Feast Inside MEGERIAN CARPET FACTORY | Yerevan, Armenia
As my second full day in Armenia continued, I set out on an awesome, once-in-a-lifetime adventure! Come along with me as I attend an Armenian cooking class and have a feast inside a carpet factory in the capital city, Yerevan!
Megerian Carpets:
Galina:
Armenia Travel:
My afternoon started at the world-famous Megerian Carpet Cultural Complex, where my guide, Galina, took me on a tour. Our first stop was the Museum of Antique Rugs. The rugs inside date back between 100 and 400 years! I also saw a photo of the largest rug in the world, which is proven to be Armenian!
Then, Galina showed me the natural dyes and a map of Armenia from 1914. The oldest rug in the museum is over 400 years old. Part of it was repaired 70 years ago with chemical dyes, but they have faded, while the natural dyes have stayed vibrant! Next, I saw the Almond Rug, which symbolize maternity, fertility, and life.
The Vahan Rug has a pattern of a shield on it and was split in half by a mother, with each of her daughters getting one half during the Armenian Genocide. She hoped that if they got separated, that they would be able to use their halves to find each other again. They found each other 50 years later in New York City. The story almost made me cry!
The rugs came in all different sizes and colors, with lots of different patterns. There were 70 rugs there!
After weaving the rugs, they wash, brush, and shear the rugs. Galina showed me the process. Then, Galina took me to the weaving center to show me the Armenian double-knot technique. She also showed me the factory’s largest loom, which can weave up to 100 square meters with 4-8 women working on it at once.
Next was the showroom, where there were thousands of rugs. All of the carpets there were for sale except one that was a present for George and Amal Clooney. They only made 100 copies of this design, and they’re only for people who are invested in the Armenian nation or helped with the Armenian Genocide.
Further along are antique rugs, which are 75 years old or more. They triple price for the age. A new one costs about $2,000, and the antiques were $6,000.
Next, I had some smooth Ararat brandy, which was amazing and exactly what I needed. I met with Vladimir, the chef, who would teach me how to cook a dish called Tapaka Ararat!
After cooking everything, he arranged the beef, rice, dried fruit, and walnuts so that they symbolized Mount Ararat and humanity around them.
The beef with saffron rice was so good. It was almost like having a creamy rice. Next, I had vodka, followed by lavash, a strong cheese, and strong greens.
The creamy eggplant with peas and pomegranante was so good! After more vodka, I tried the lake trout dish called the Mermaid, which was stuffed with greens, cranberries, and cranberry sauce. It also came with a spinach-like herb and cream.
Next were the dolmas, which I love eating in Greece. They’re grape leaves stuffed with beef and rice. You eat them with creamy matsoun.
For dessert, I tried the halwa, which was like a delicious cacao ball. The nuts with honey were like a delicious peanut butter ball, and the gata was dense, sugary, and crumbly.
What an amazing dinner! The only thing is, if you want to dine at the restaurant in the carpet factory, you have to make reservations beforehand.
After dinner, I tried on some traditional garb that’s meant for kings. It went well with my new hat I got from the market earlier in the day. I got some photos taken in the carpet showroom for $25 USD.
I hope you enjoyed coming with me to my Armenian cooking class and feast inside the Megerian Carpet Factory. If you did, please give this video a thumbs up and leave a comment below.
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My name is David Hoffmann. For the last decade, I have been traveling around the world in search of unique culture, food, and history! Since starting David’s Been Here in 2008, I have traveled to over 1,100 destinations in 76 countries, which I welcome you to check out on my YouTube channel, travel blog, and social media sites.
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When Two Armenians Meet Up at Megerian Carpet Museum
“I should like to see any power of the world destroy this race, this small tribe of unimportant people, whose wars have all been fought and lost, whose structures have crumbled, literature is unread, music is unheard, and prayers are no more answered. Go ahead, destroy Armenia . See if you can do it. Send them into the desert without bread or water. Burn their homes and churches. Then see if they will not laugh, sing and pray again. For when two of them meet anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a New Armenia.”
William Saroyan
This is exactly what happens when unfamiliar to each other Armenians meet up in one room..
Armenian Carpets and Rugs (Megerian Carpet Armenia)
I visited Megerian Carpet Armenia to learn how carpets and rugs are made in Armenia!
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Megerian Carpet:
Megerian Rugs:
Discovering special artisan production of rugs and carpets from Megerian Carpet factory
Jumping into the magic and craft world of rugs and carpets exclusively handmade producing by Megerian in Yerevan, Armenia.
Megerian Carpets: Weaving Treasures in Armenia
A tour of the Megerian Carpet Factory and Museum in Yerevan, Armenia
Megerian Carpet Carpet Factory Tour
MEGERIAN CARPET in Yerevan has a spectacular showroom where visitors from foreign countries as well as local residents can make their purchases. Visitors and guests are welcome to watch the production of the rugs which involve dyeing of the yarns by using vegetable dyes, weaving, shearing, finishing, etc... Enjoy a unique experience worth remembering!
Armenian carpets
In Yerevan, you can often see amazing stores that sell carpets. In these stores, like in museums, you can see a lot of interesting things from the past of this country. Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Iran are a kind of center where the craft of carpet making originated. Nowadays, still, all the carpets are made by hand, which takes a lot of time. Each carpet pattern has a specific meaning.
My gear:
Sony Action Cam FDR-X3000 -
Sony SLT-A65V -
Sigma 18-250mm F3.5-6.3 DC MACRO HSM -
Mer Doon NGO 2006-2016 10th Anniversary Celebration at Megerian Carpet
Mer Doon NGO's 10th Anniversary Celebration at Megerian Carpet Armenia
President Sarkissian visited today the Megerian Carpet company
President Armen Sarkissian visited today the Megerian Carpet company. The President was familiarized with nearly a one hundred years-long history of the company which presents the Armenian art of carpet-making in different countries of the world.
The Megerian Carpet started its activities in Armenia in 2000. The company is manufacturing hand-made carpets of different design snd density, as well as repairs and renovates hand-made carpets
. President Sarkissian visited the manufacturing hall, inquired of the waivers work, and observed the carpet-making process. Armen Sarkissian visited also the Hovhannes and Noemi Megerian Ancient Carpets Museum which exhibits the most attractive and rich samples of the traditional Armenian carpet-making art.
The President was familiarized with the history of the ancient carpets from different regions of Armenia, Artsakh, and Western Armenia. In particular, the 160 years old Vahanagorg, which has a touching story behind it, is exhibited in the Museum: During the Genocide, a desperate mother had cut it in two and gave to her daughters so that they could find each other if separated. It happened exactly that way: 50 years later, the sisters found each other in New York because of the two pieces of the rug. The Museum has also a replica of the world’s oldest carpet, Pazirik. The original is on display in the Ermitage.
The executives of the Megerian Carpet told the President about the current activities and forthcoming plans of development. President Sarkissian encouraged them to work also in Gyumri.
Megerian Carpets factory , Մեգերյան կարպետ Мегерян Карпет
Museum of “Megerian Carpets” factory
Antique rugs and carpets museum at Megerian Carpet
Мегерян Карпет
Компания Мегерян Карпет была основана в 1917 году в Нью-Йорке. Изначально компания занималась разработкой новых и антикварных ковров.
В 2002 году компания Мегерян основалась в Армении. Компания в нашей стране восстановила традицию производства рукодельных ковров. Благодаря ее деятельности, армянские ковры появились на мировом рынке и мировых выставках.
Մեգերյան կարպետ
Մեգերյան ընտանիքի ավելի քան չորս սերունդ զբաղվել է հին գորգերի վերականգնումով և նոր գորգերի արտադրությանբ: 1917 թվականին Մեգերյաները գաղթել են ԱՄՆ և հիմնել «Մեգերյան» ընկերությունը, որն սկզբում զբաղվել է հին գորգերի վերանորոգումով և լվացումով, ինչպես նաև առքուվաճառքով:
13.09.2016 ''Mer Doon'' carpet weaving by Ani jan
Mer Doon's 10th Anniversary carpet being woven by Ani Jan at Megerian Carpet Armenia.
The Rebirth of Karabakh’s Carpet-weaving Traditions
Nune Avetisyan interviews Sevak Khachatryan, director of the Karabakh Carpet Company.
The company was launched in 2013 in Shushi, a city historically renowned for being the cultural capital of Karabakh and the heart of its carpet-making traditions. Today carpets woven in Shushi can be found in the permanent collections of major museums across the world.
The Karabakh Carpet Company has revitalized Karabakh’s carpet-making traditions by complementing age-old techniques with modern manufacturing, using locally sourced materials. Since its establishment in Shushi, the company has opened three more factories in Nagorno Karabakh (in Stepanakert, Chartar, and Berdzor), employing over 150 people.
Carpets produced by the Karabakh Carpet Company are exported throughout the world. They’re shipped to Yerevan, via the Goris-Stepanakert Highway, and subsequently distributed worldwide. The Goris-Stepanakert Highway was built by Armenia Fund.
Collective of USA Embassy in Armenia at Megerian Carpet Armenia.
Learning Armenian traditional dances by Teryan Cultural Center.
MEGERIAN CARPET CLEANERS - The Kardashians Visit Megerian Carpet Armenia
The Kardashians Visit Megerian Carpet Armenia
MEGERIAN RUG GALLERY & MEGERIAN RUG CLEANERS - A Quick Tour of Megerian Carpet Armenia
A Quick Tour of Megerian Carpet Armenia
Megerian rug-gallery in NYC
Raffi Megerian owns a prominent Megerian rug-gallery in Manhattan. Megerian rug stores are in Armenia, Egypt, Romania and Pakistan. Hovhannes Megerian, father of Raffi ran the same business for decades. Megerians tell the stories of Armenian rugs.
MEGERIAN RUG CLEANERS - A Quick Tour of Megerian Carpet Armenia
A Quick Tour of Megerian Carpet Armenia
MEGERIAN CARPET CLEANERS - Models Take a Quick Tour of Megerian's Museum
Models Take a Quick Tour of Megerian's Museum
Վահանագորգ Megerian Museum in Yerevan
Every Antique Armenian Rug tells a timeless story of joy, grief and triumph - This Antique Armenian rug which is on display at the Megerian Museum in Yerevan tells the story of two sisters that were tragically separated during the Armenian Genocide.
Prior to their mother being killed, she cut this rug into two pieces and gave one to each daughter. The sisters were luckily able to escape the Genocide through separate means. Over 50 years later, while working in a Factory in New York, these two sisters met each other and after exchanging their stories, the two pieces of the rug were united and so was their family!
Ковер, соединивший двух сестер через 50 лет. Чуть более ста лет назад, во время геноцида армян, мать разрезала этот ковер на две половинки, отдав их своим дочерям, чтобы, во-первых, они могли согреться, во-вторых, найти друг друга после резни. Так и случилось. Сейчас этот артефакт находится на фабрике Megerian Carpet в Армении
Առաջին գորգը, որը ներկայացվեց 160 տարեկան Վահանագորգն էր իր հուզիչ պատմությամբ՝ ցեղասպանության ժամանակ ճարահատյալ մայրը, բաժանելով այն երկու մասի, տվել է իր աղջիկներին, որ վերջիններս կարողանան իրար գտնել և այդպես էլ պատահել է, 50 տարի անց քույրերն իրար վերագտել են ի շնորհիվ գորգի երկու հատվածների ։
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Մեգերյան թանգարանում ցուցադրված Վահանագորգը մոտվորապես 160 տարեկան է։ Մեջտեղում պարզ երևում է, որ գորգը կիսված է։ Մի շատ յուրահատուկ պատմություն կա կապված այս գորգի հետ։ Ցեղասպանության օրերին, երբ հայերը լքում էին իրենց տները և փախչում, մայրը կիսել է այս գորգը երկու մասի իր աղջիկների միջև ասելով:
«Եթե երբևիցե գտնեք միմյանց, միացրեք այս գորգը ի հիշատակ մեր ընտանիքի»: