Armenian Appreciation Day 2023: Date, History, Facts about Armenia

Armenian Appreciation Day occurs annually on April 3. This day honours Armenians by commemorating their history and culture and recognising their struggle for acceptance. The Armenians have existed as minorities within larger states and as minorities between larger warring powers for centuries. The majority of Armenians reside outside of Armenia, dispersed across the globe. Despite geographical distances and absorption of numerous influences from diverse and frequently dominant cultures, the Armenians have preserved a distinct culture. They are proud of their language, religious beliefs, and mountainous homeland.

The background of Armenian Appreciation Day

In the 14th century, ancient Armenia ultimately lost its independence due to persistent foreign interference. Over the centuries, Ottoman and Persian conquerors dominated the region and posed a threat to the Armenians’ very existence. During the 19th century, Russia annexed eastern Armenia, while western Armenia remained under Ottoman dominion.

Armenian territory that had previously been a component of the Russian Empire declared independence on May 28, 1918. In 1920, however, Soviet Russia and Turkey invaded using force. From 1894 to 1897, the Hamidian massacres resulted in the barbaric slaughter of Armenians. The executions were authorised by Sultan Abdul Hamid II. There were approximately 100,000 to 300,000 fatalities and an estimated 50,000 bereaved children.

During World War I, the Ottoman Empire systematically eradicated Armenians and their culture. Approximately one million Armenians were murdered during funeral marches into the Syrian Desert. Armenian women and children were compelled to convert to Islam. Between 1915 and 1916, the Ottoman politician Talaat Pasha ordered that women, children, the elderly, and the infirm be sent on funeral marches through the Syrian Desert. An estimated 800,000 to 1,200,000 individuals endured this horrifying treatment. More than two millennia of Armenian civilization were wiped out by the Armenian genocide. However, the Turkish government defends the deportation of Armenians and denies that it was genocide. Despite these difficulties, Armenians are now a confident and prosperous people.

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