COOKERY UNDER MOONLIGHT
Support A1+!Once a year 14 broad-shouldered men make harisa singing and drumming all night through as a token of victory. The history of harisa goes back to ancient history. Harisa is so appreciated among the Musalertsies (people who fought for their freedom on Mount Musa) that it is served as a requiem meal to commemorate the victims of Mount Musa’s heroic battle.
The Musalertsies later settled in the district of Armavir, in a village called Mount Musa. Every year, on the third Sunday of September, a fete is organized and people make Harisa from mutton and bulgur (wheat). Armenians gather in the village of Mount Musa from the most distant places and from every corner of the world to be served Harisa. On that day all the people enjoy the immortal Harisa and pay tribute and respect, commemorating all the victims.
80-year-old Poghos is the cheifcook of harisa. He has been making the dish since 1963. 15-year-old cook Tigran states it is rather difficult to stay for 12 hours mixing meat beside hearths.
This year the cooks slaughtered 7 sheep and cooked the meat in 100 pots. The dinner party was accompanied with songs and dances, with the sounds of the traditional zurna (an Armenian national musical instrument) and children of all ages were reciting. The old Musalertsies acted-out those black, but heroic, 40 days of their famous defense.
