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• 1 / 15
  Picnic among friends in Totowa, New Jersey, on land owned by Hagop Kazanjian, seated third from left, c. 1900.
  Photo by Fred Toprahan, courtesy of John Kazanjian, Project SAVE Armenian Photograph Archives
• 2 / 15
  People with roots in Kesserig, Ottoman Empire, gather for a picnic near Providence, Rhode Island, 1912 or 1913. The Armenian instrument zurna is among the instruments played.
  Photo by M. Melinian, courtesy of Margaret Karian King, Project SAVE Armenian Photograph Archives
• 3 / 15
  In 1918, young Armenian men celebrate the newly formed Republic of Armenia at a picnic with friends at the Toumajian Farm near Worcester, Massachusetts. Along with the American Flag, they hold the tricolor flag of Armenia.
  Photo by Nishan Ohanian, courtesy of Carnig Alexanderian, Project SAVE Armenian Photograph Archives
• 4 / 15
  Men dance at a Vanetzi picnic (people born in Van or related to those who were) in the 1920s near Chelsea, Massachusetts. The man at far left wearing a Van costume leads the dance and is known as the barbashi.
  Photo courtesy of Vahram Der Parseghian, Project SAVE Armenian Photograph Archives
• 5 / 15
  Dancing at a picnic in the Catskills, Tannersville, New York, late 1920s.
  Photo courtesy of Sona Kludjian, Project SAVE Armenian Photograph Archives
• 6 / 15
  The first picnic of the General Society of the Province of Kharpert on August 31, 1924.
  Photo by American Commercial Photo Co., Detroit, Michigan, courtesy of Zabel Arakelian, Project SAVE Armenian Photograph Archives
• 7 / 15
  While helping his hyrig (father) Movses Movsesian make shish kebab, young Nazareth steals the limelight wearing Movses’s boater hat and his own shy smile, Van Courtland Park, the Bronx, New York, 1924.
  Photo courtesy of Alice Movsesian, Project SAVE Armenian Photograph Archives
• 8 / 15
  Committee for the Haistani Oknoutian Gomide (Aid to Armenia Committee) picnic in Cleveland, Ohio, August 30, 1931. Note the men on each end holding up shish kebab.
  Photo by McCoy’s Studio, courtesy of Jack Torosian, Project SAVE Armenian Photograph Archives
• 9 / 15
  The Chamian family and other Sepastatsis (people born in Sepastia or related to those who were), many of them rug dealers, picnic on a fine carpet with a whole roast lamb in Boston, c. 1935 The birthday cake is for two-year-old Mildred Chamian (right front).
  Photo courtesy of Mildred Chamian Nahabedian, Project SAVE Armenian Photograph Archives
• 10 / 15
  Women skewering shish kabobs in Salem Willows, Massachusetts, 1939. Left to right: Martha Haigian, Mariam Janazian, unidentified woman, Mariam Sarkisian, and Hripseme Haigian Nahabedian.
  Photo by H.F.H. Co., courtesy of Ann Nahabedian, Project SAVE Armenian Photograph Archives
• 11 / 15
  Armenian Student Association picnic in Goddard Park, Warwick, Rhode Island, c. 1939. Avedis Avakian plays backgammon against Armenag Kalustian as their wives, Gadar Tekmejian Avakian and Mrs. Kalustian, look on.
  Photo courtesy of Anahid Avakian, Project SAVE Armenian Photograph Archives
• 12 / 15
  The Van Hotel, located near the Asbury Park boardwalk in New Jersey, was a summer gathering place for Armenian Americans, especially those from the tristate area of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. Vanetzis (people born in Van or related to those who were) came together as a community and enjoyed the beach during the day and music and dancing at night.
  Photo courtesy of Vanetzi Vart Shirvanian Hachigian and Seda Aykanian Mataevosian, Project SAVE Armenian Photograph Archives
• 13 / 15
  Picnic hosted by Armenian Democratic Liberals (Ramgavar) member Aznovour Herosian, Miami, Florida, 1973 or 1974.
  Photo courtesy of Violet Galazan, Project SAVE Armenian Photograph Archives
• 14 / 15
  St. Mesrob Armenian Apostolic Church annual madagh (offering) picnic, on a Sunday in July 1978.
  Photo by Rosario Natale D’Acquisto, Racine Journal Times, courtesy of St. Mesrob Church, Project SAVE Armenian Photograph Archives
• 15 / 15
  Armenian Nursing and Rehabilitation Center Picnic in Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts, June 2009. The man on the left plays the oud, a traditional Armenian instrument.
  Photo courtesy of Greg Krikorian, Project SAVE Armenian Photograph Archives

Click on the image above to view full slideshow

An enduring feature of Armenian life, picnics are gatherings where young and old come together to share traditions of food, storytelling, music, and dance, keeping the culture vibrant. Here, Project SAVE Armenian Photograph Archives is proud to share its photos of picnics in America from 1900 and continuing through the decades.

Many of these gatherings are formally organized by churches, political organizations, or social clubs, while others are simple gatherings of friends and family. The sound of the oud (lute) or zurna (woodwind), the alluring aroma of barbecuing meat, and the sight of traditional dances all contribute to the familiar ritual.

The Armenian Apostolic Church follows the centuries-old tradition of blessing the first grapes of the harvest in early August. Each parish has a picnic to prepare a madagh (offering). In larger communities, the summer calendar fills up with other opportunities to come together and eat, dance, and hear the Armenian language and music. Friends and family gather after a long workweek to enjoy each other’s company and share a meal. Often someone brings along an instrument.

In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, people arriving in the United States from the Ottoman Empire often sought out fellow immigrants from their home provinces. Over time, their descendants developed organizations as a way to keep the connection to their ancestors’ village or province. These summer picnics were an opportunity to share a traditional dish with ancestral neighbors or listen to music with dance steps unique to their homeland. In these photos, you’ll see people from Van, who call themselves Vanetzis; people from Sepastia, or Sepastatsis; people from Kesserig, and people from Kharpert.

Armenian picnics continue today, teaching new generations traditions still celebrated throughout the Armenian Diaspora.

Project SAVE Armenian Photograph Archives has a mission to collect, document, preserve, and present the photographic record of all Armenians. Project SAVE Archives strives to increase knowledge of Armenian culture and heritage by encouraging the use of its extensive collection of photographs, together with its many other resources to the widest possible audience. It aims to contribute back to the community by supporting and collaborating with other historical, cultural, and educational organizations.