More than 75 guests, including Burbank’s Police and Fire chiefs, the Burbank City Manager, five of seven candidates running for the Burbank City Council, Council Member Dr. David Gordon, Burbank board and commission members, and officials from the Burbank Unified School District were part of a dinner on January 8 hosted by the Burbank Armenian National Committee to celebrate Armenian Christmas. The guests enjoyed a traditional Armenian dinner, against a backdrop of festive music and decorations, at the Burbank Armenian Community Center located three blocks from Burbank City Hall. In addition to the hosts, Armenian organizations represented by executives and rank-and-file included: the Homenetmen, the Armenian Relief Society and the Armenian Cultural Foundation. The Christmas event is in its eighth year. The annual tradition allows the Burbank ANC to look back at its previous year’s accomplishmen’s and thank Burbank community leaders for their continued support of the grassroots organization’s activities. Those activities include issues of local interest to Armenian-American residents of Burbank, as well as far-reaching work related to the Armenian Genocide. The Master of Ceremonies for the night was Garen Yegparian, co-founder of the Burbank ANC and a member of the prestigious City of Burbank board which oversees recreation activities and parks. Dr. Arbi Ohanian, Burbank ANC chair, extended a warm welcome to the guests. He explained why Armenia’s, the first country in the world to accept Christianity as a state religion in 301 AD, celebrate Christmas on January 6 (instead of December 25) along with Greeks and Russia’s. In the early days of Christianity, the birth of Christ was celebrated on January 6. But the Roman Catholic Church changed its date of celebration to December 25, to compete with and overshadow a Pagan holiday observed on that date. Other guests included, Burbank City Manager Mary Alvord, Burbank Assistant City Manager Mike Flad, Fire Chief Tracy Pansini, Burbank Police Chief Tom Hoefel, Superintendent of Schools Greg Bowman, Burbank School Board Member Debbie Kukta and a number of members from City of Burbank boards and commissions.
