Dença Değirmenci
From Konya Ereğli to Istanbul: My Grandmother’s Story
Her story in Ereğli ended when she got married at the age of 17 and moved to Istanbul with my grandfather. At that time, Armenian families would marry off their daughters at a young age to Armenian men to protect them. That’s how my grandmother got married and came to Istanbul for the first time—for her own wedding.
Gathering around New Year and Christmas tables
Beyond its historical and religious meanings, Christmas in Armenian culture is a celebration that upholds traditional and societal values. These traditions have been carried on in various forms for years in the lands of Anatolia, Mesopotamia, and Thrace.While traces of regional customs can still be seen in the homes of Armenians in Istanbul, some traditions, unfortunately, have faded over time.
Getting Stronger Together
The main theme of our meeting and the common point that brought us together was that we were all Armenian women. Although each of us had thought about, discussed, and even found opportunities to take action on the problems we face as women in society, we realized that as Armenian women, we deeply felt the lack of a space that would allow us to express these problems and seek solutions.