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In preparation for Easter, the students of St. Gregory of Narek Armenian Church School gathered for a meaningful and hands-on lesson centered on one of our cherished Armenian traditions. Under the thoughtful organization and coordination of Yn. Naira, who also prepared the special lesson, the students made their own Easter wheatgrass plates. Lauren Demirjian led the lesson, introducing the children to this “old and beautiful Armenian Easter tradition.” She explained that Armenian families continue to grow wheatgrass in the weeks leading up to Easter and place it on the festive table, adorned with colored eggs, as a symbol of new life and renewal. Our dedicated teachers, Kristine and Tatev, assisted the students with the activity, while Mane captured the joyful moments through photographs. The process itself became part of the lesson: a layer of cotton is placed in a small dish, wheat grains are “planted” and carefully watered over two weeks, eventually growing into a bed of fresh green grass. This grass then becomes the setting for Easter eggs, beautifully displayed on the Easter dinner table. The wheatgrass represents the cycle of life—dying and rising again—and serves as a powerful reminder of Christ’s Resurrection. As our Lord teaches, “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit” (John 12:24). At the conclusion of the activity, the prepared plates were presented to Der Hratch to be blessed, connecting this beautiful cultural tradition to the life of the Church and the faith we share. |