Agra Hadig or Atam Hatik is a ceremony in

Armenian culture The culture of Armenia encompasses many elements that are based on the geography, literature, architecture, dance, and music of the people. Creative arts Literature Literature began in Armenia around 401 A.D. The majority of the literary ...

commemorating the first tooth coming in of a

newborn An infant or baby is the very young offspring of human beings. ''Infant'' (from the Latin word ''infans'', meaning 'unable to speak' or 'speechless') is a formal or specialised synonym for the common term ''baby''. The terms may also be used to ...

baby. In the ceremony, the young baby is set before several symbolic items relating to different professional

vocation A vocation () is an occupation to which a person is especially drawn or for which they are suited, trained or qualified. People can be given information about a new occupation through student orientation. Though now often used in non-religious co ...

s. Whichever item the child first selects is meant to indicate what profession the child will likely gravitate towards as they grow up. Traditionally, the mother next sprinkles wheat over the child to wish for fruitfulness. The combination is meant to represent the spiritual connection between ''Agra'' (teeth) and ''Hadig'' (wheat).Rousseau, Bryant; In Armenia, ‘What Do You Want to Be?’ Is Asked in Infancy; The New York Times; March 12, 2017; https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/12/world/europe/armenia-atam-hatik-agra-hadig.htmlDresser, Norine; A Tiny Fortune Teller; LA Times; October 2, 1999; http://articles.latimes.com/1999/oct/02/local/me-17847 The tradition is said to go back several hundred years but is most recently documented in the 19th century, originally as a

divination Divination (from Latin ''divinare'', 'to foresee, to foretell, to predict, to prophesy') is the attempt to gain insight into a question or situation by way of an occultic, standardized process or ritual. Used in various forms throughout histor ...

to predict the gender of the child's next sibling. Under

Soviet The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, ...

rule and the eventual

Armenian diaspora The Armenian diaspora refers to the communities of Armenians outside Armenia and other locations where Armenians are considered an indigenous population. Since antiquity, Armenians have established communities in many regions throughout the world. ...

the tradition changed to predicting the profession of the child in adult life. Objects include: book for scholar, money for finance, jewelry for jeweler, spool of thread for tailor. Tradition is to cook/boil wheat grains, which symbolize the "teeth". A thin veil is held over the child's head, and the grains are sprinkled over them, on top of the veil for good luck. Then, the cooked wheat is eaten by the party attendees, with an assortment of toppings they can put on their bowl of wheat such as sugar, cinnamon, pomegranate seeds. Modern versions also include sprinkles, chocolate chips, mini M&Ms and the like.

References

{{Reflist Rites of passage

See also

References