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New Year is before Christmas in Armenia which celebrates Christmas in January on the Julian Calendar.  Commerce is growing around the season. The outdoor markets sell new fur hats, wood carved crèches and garlands of tinsel.  Santa sells Benz automobiles in Yerevan.

The Christmas tree in Republic Square is built from real trees mounted on a metal frame.  We watched as the fire department put the tree together and hoped there would be no need for the hook and ladder truck.  Below, different tree styles.  I like the representational tree below left.  In the center a rose continues to try to bloom in the first snow of December.

All Pictures © 2006, Rich McClear