On New Years’ Eve, everyone dreams, waits for the clock to ring twelve and follows up on old traditions. People fill up their refrigerators with food and get ready to watch the television programs and chat with friends. There has to be a lot of food set on the table on New Years’ Eve so that people eat well and be satisfied during the New Year.
Usually, people dress in new clothes on New Years’ Eve and throw the old, ragged clothes so that all the pain and troubles go away with the old. Superstitious people know that it is forbidden to sweep the floor, take out the trash and work hard on January 1 because in that case the year will be full of losses and efforts in vain. You must set your schedule straight in order to wish a Happy New Year to as many people as possible, give out presents and wish those people happiness. If you do that, then the year will go along well and you will only have good memories of the past year.
Many artists think that 2005 was a good year. Many of them think that life hasn’t really changed much and even if it is hard to overcome some of the difficulties, that doesn’t really create obstacles for living and creating. Almost all artists state the fact that they are far from politics and they are able to live peacefully by not going deep into politics. They say that the reasons for their achievements and failures are only their efforts and hard-work.
Arthur Grigoryan (composer and artistic director of the State Song Theatre): “It is good that we are living in peace. I worked during the year, there were some successful projects, however, that is not important for me. What’s important is that there was no disaster or war in Armenia. I really value peace and I celebrate each New Year with fear. Do you remember the tsunami last year…? If the year goes by peacefully, then everything is fine. I don’t believe in fairy tales. If it goes on like this, it’s still good.”
Hrach Keshishyan (chief producer for “H1” public television): “I have been busy the whole year and my family is doing well. 2005 was a good year. I am used to getting up early in the morning at around 7 a.m. and when I leave the house, I see empty streets. I would like to see the daily commute early in the morning and the streets be filled with people rushing to work. I would like to see life move faster and people with jobs. That is one of the keys of success.”
Armen Mazmanyan (stage director): “It was a good year for the country in that there were no earthquakes or war. In my opinion, it was not such a good year for the opposition though. If we compare this year with each year of the 1990s, we can say that this year was a little bit better, but very little. We don’t have the positive energy. An artist needs positive energy. Everyone has been broken down. I have no particular expectations.”
Ruben Matevosyan (singer): “2005 was a good year. I wish that the coming year be as good as this one. I don’t get involved in politics. My job is to sing. I sing and will continue to sing. I don’t want to talk about new expectations because they are secret. Only time will show if they will become reality.”