Video Library - Houshamadyan

All videos presented on this page were produced by Houshamadyan. They were prepared by our team, using materials we have collected.

Traditions/Customs

"Our Ancestors’ Games" | Concept and Editing by Garine Gokceyan. Those of you who spent your childhood playing traditional Armenian games are probably familiar with one or more of the following: "dziv dziv madnotsig", "djor djor", "grag ga", or "hos avazan mu ga". In fact, these are very old games that we have inherited from our ancestors. They have been preserved by individual families or within the walls of a few educational establishments in places like Beirut, Los Angeles, Berlin, Buenos Aires, Yerevan, Istanbul, Paris, Cairo, and elsewhere.
"Tahinov Hats [Tahini Bread], With or Without Cinnamon" | Concept and Editing by Garine Gokceyan. The film is about 12 minutes long, and it is dedicated to Tahinov hats [Tahini Bread]. We went to Lebanon and then to the Netherlands in order to explore the recipe and history of Tahinov hats, as well as the stages of its evolution.
Tonir Khagh (a game) | Concept and Editing by Garine Gokceyan. How to place the game? Demonstration and tutorial.
Djiv Djiv Madnotsig (a game) | Concept and Editing by Garine Gokceyan. How to place the game? Demonstration and tutorial.
Grag Ga? (a game) | Concept and Editing by Garine Gokceyan. How to place the game? Demonstration and tutorial.

Dialects

"Our Names" [Mer Anounneru] | Concept and editing by Silvina Der Meguerditchian. This film is a narration of a short story, Mer Anounneru [Our Names], from Mgrdich Margosian’s book Gavur Mahallesi [Infidel Quarters]. Using old photographs and her artistic talent, Silvina has successfully created a bridge between the Diyarbakir of the 1940s and 1950s, in which Margosian lived, and the Diyarbakir of the pre-Genocide era, which was home to a much more established and much more vibrant Armenian community. The short story is read by renowned actress Arsinée Khanjian.
"Hedjentsik tum Agho en" (Hadjin) | Concept and editing by Silvina Der Meguerditchian. The film is about 11 minutes long, and it is dedicated to the dialect and customs of Hadjin Armenians. It features material collected from throughout the world, including testimonies by people now living in Argentina and Lebanon, as well as photographs sent to use from Lebanon, the United States, Argentina, and France. It also features music obtained from New Jersey, Buenos Aires, and Berlin. The common thread is Hadjin – its dialect, its traditions, and local customs.
Trapping with Birdlime (Musa Dagh) | Concept, text, camera: Hovig Atamian | Editing, illustrations: Silvina Der Meguerditchian. This video is about the preparation of birdlime with sebestens—the plum-like fruit of the Assyrian plum (Cordia myxa, formerly Sebestena myxa)—in Musa Dagh. In the dialect of Musa Dagh, the fruit is called dekhb (Arabic sibistān, Persian sapistān, Turkish sebesten). This traditional form of bird trapping has also been maintained by Armenians who settled in Ainjar (Lebanon) from Musa Dagh. The language spoken in the videos is the dialect of Musa Dagh.
Film in Hadjin Dialect – Buenos Aires. A group of Hadjin Armenians, affiliated with the Hadjin House club of Buenos Aires, came together and produced a film that presented the Hadjin dialect to its viewers. The film was released in 2005, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Hadjin House. The film is presented with English and Spanish subtitles.
A conversation in Kharpert dialect | The holiday of the Holy Mother of God was celebrated with great fanfare on the Harput/Kharpert Valley. On that day, thousands of pilgrims would head to the Saint Nshan Monastery located in Lake Tsovk (Gölcük). A celebratory atmosphere would reign there for three days. Houshamadyan has prepared a short animation segment in which two Harput/Kharpert residents engage in an on-site conversation about the holiday in their local dialect.
A conversation in Kharpert dialect | Harput/Kharpert market. A short animation. One of the speakers, Mkho, speaks using the dialect of the plain of Harput. We have tried to faithfully retain it. Concept, animation, edition: Juliette Inigo, Ylenia Wagner, Silvina Der- Meguerditchian. Dialogue: G.M. Goshgarian and Vahé Tachjian.

Animations

"A ride through the spiritual landscape of Van". The short animation film will show you various old photographs from Van which are part of the Bedo Yeghiayian (London) and Venice San Lazzaro Mekhitarist Order collections. Throughout the ride, Hayrig Mouradian's voice will accompany you with a song from Van which was inspired by the epic "Sasna Dzrer" (David of Sassoun). Concept and animation by Silvina Der Meguerditchian.
Animation film about the city of Van. Gregory Kachperouni, a Vanetsi, performs the melodies that accompanies the film. Concept, animation and edition: Olga Golikova and Silvina Der-Meguerditchian.
"Ourfa: A Scent of Memory". A short film dedicated to Ourfa and its once-vibrant Armenian life. All of the photographs presented here are old photographs from Ourfa, and the Armenian song that accompanies the podcast is also from the repertoire of the city. The podcast was prepared by Silvina Der Meguerditchian and Karin León Henneberg. The song, accompanied by the oud, is performed by Harout Chval-Yertanian (Harout Bartanian).
Marash schools - Animation film. It is a short moment in the daily life of the Armenian students of the Marash seminary of teachers. These are girls from Marash or from neighboring cities and villages. We have tried to create a dialogue between them...
Animation film prepared by Tumo students (Yerevan) during a workshop conducted by the Houshamadyan team in July 2013. The film is about Armenian life in Parchandj/Perchnedj village (Kharpert Valley).
"Object that tell stories". A short film prepared by Tumo students (Yerevan) during a workshop conducted by the Houshamadyan team in July 2013.
"Armenian Presence in Dersim". This short film has more of a documentary nature and is mainly based on George Aghjayan's article on Dersim's demography published in our website. The film runs for about 10 minutes, during which the map of Dersim will allow you to find the Armenian-populated villages, churches and monasteries, accompanied by short references to life in Dersim. The film was prepared by Musa Hengirvani Cimen.

Dances

Khorkom/Van | Papouree
Diyarbekir/Dikranagerd | Shoushan and Halay
Kessab | Dances
Alashgerd | Tamzara
Malatya | Tamzara
Yerzenga/Erzindjan | Tamzara
Arapgir | Tamzara
Kharpert | Dzaner Bar (Horoum Havasi)
Sivas/Sepasdia | Govdountsi Bar
Yerzenga | Houshig Moushig
Kharpert | Tamzara
Palu | Tamzara

Oral History

Interviews with Hadjin Armenians – Lebanon. Zabel Sarafian-Moutafian, Zalka neighborhood. Interviews were conducted by Nora Sarafian-Tashjian. The interviews were filmed by Etienne Seokunian.
Interviews with Hadjin Armenians – Lebanon. Antranig Dakesian, Amanos neighborhood. Interviews were conducted by Nora Sarafian-Tashjian. The interviews were filmed by Etienne Seokunian.
Interviews with Hadjin Armenians – Lebanon. Makrouhi Tatoulian-Khachadourian | Khalil Bedewi neighborhood. Interviews were conducted by Nora Sarafian-Tashjian. The interviews were filmed by Etienne Seokunian.
Food preparation | Traditions and stories. Interview with Shake Kasparian Baghdassarian, Beirut. Interviewer: Garine Gokceyan. Camera: Etienne Seukunian.
Houshamadyan workshop focusing on the oral history of Hadjin | Buenos Aires, Hadjin House club. During the workshop, conducted by our colleague Silvina Der Meguerditchian, descendants of Hadjin Armenians shared memories of their parents or grandparents, anecdotes from their lives, and their families’ traditions and customs.
Objet that tell stories | Vienna (German UT)

Documentary footage

A short clip from the Shahinian family’s film archives. The clip was recorded in the 1940s, in the Bronx (New York), where the Shahinian family lived. The Shahinians were renowned for the festivities and feasts they organized at their home, during which they performed the songs and dances of Van. The clip was prepared by Garine Gokceyan.
Re-enacting a traditional Diyarbekir Armenian marriage. This video was shot in Qamishli (Syria) in 1984 at an event celebrating the Armenian heritage of Diyarbekir/Dikranagerd. The people in the video stage a wedding feast with songs, dances and other traditions in order to show what a traditional Diyarbekir wedding would look like. The singer is Papken Simonian, and the event was organized by the Qamishli Hamazkayin Union. Source: YouTube - Hovsep Sarkis.
From Palu to Providence: Survival of a Legacy ('Palutsi' picnic in Providence). A clip from Misak Berberian’s film ‘40 Years of Memories: 1932-1972’, produced in the 1930s and now edited by Silvina Der-Meguerditchian. Natives of Palu in Providence (Rhode Island, USA) appear during a picnic. The film belongs to the George Aghjayan collection.
From Palu to Providence: Survival of a Legacy - A ‘Palutsi’ Wedding. A clip from the 1960s now edited by Silvina Der-Meguerditchian. Providence (Rhode Island, USA). A Palu wedding party with the Der Manouelian and Aghjayan families present. The film belongs to the George Aghjayan collection.
From Palu to Providence: Survival of a Legacy (A Family Gathering). A clip produced in the 1950s and now edited by Silvina Der-Meguerditchian. One of the Giragos Der Manouelian’s family get-togethers in Providence (Rhode Island, USA). Giragos was born in the village of Sakrat in the Palu district. His relatives from Palu who live in Marseilles are present. The film belongs to the George Aghjayan collection.

Intangible Heritage

"Saroukhan’s World of Satire: Adages Presented as Images" (Part 1). The video offers caricatures, adapted by Houshamadyan, from Saroukhan’s book. We also present Alexander Saroukhan’s (1898-1977) biography, accompanied by numerous images. The video was prepared by Silvina Der Meguerditchian.
Saroukhan‘s World of Satire: Adages Presented as Images (Part 2). The film features cartoons from Saroukhan‘s book, which have been adapted by Houshamadyan into moving images. The film was produced by Silvina Der Meguerditchian.

Our workshops

Houshamadyan in Athens – April 1-3, 2022 | Workshop. The video (in Armenian and Greek) provides additional information on the scheduled events.
Houshamadyan in Thessaloniki – Workshop on November 13 and 14, 2021 | The video (in Armenian and Greek) provides additional information on the scheduled events.
A 5 min podcast presentation about Houshamadyan project. Concept: Silvina Der Meguerditchian and Vahé Tachjian, screenplay Silvina Der Meguerditchian/Jose Luis Rubio, animation: Olga Golikova, illustrations: Juan Manuel Moreno Sánchez