PASADENA, CA — On Saturday, May 9, 2026, Nor Serount Cultural Asso- ciation, Hamazkayin ‘Shahan Shahnour’ chapter and Tekeyan Cultural Associa- tion came together to host an Armenian cultural celebration at the Lamanda Park Branch Library centered around sharing Armenian traditions with the broader Pas- adena commu- nity through i n t e r a c t i v e w o r k s h o p s , performances, and storytell- ing. T h r o u g h- out the event, attendees par- ticipated in hands-on ac- tivities includ- ing learning how to write their names in Armenian, coloring Armenian monu- ments, creating traditional Armenian paper hats, and making clay khachkars while learning about the history and symbolism behind Armenian cross-stones. A Marash embroidery booth also gave guests the opportunity to learn about tradi- tional Armenian craftsmanship and regional art styles. Guests also enjoyed poetry readings written by Vahan Tekeyan, along with Armenian story readings featuring the works of Hovhannes Tumanyan. The pro- gram continued with a live dance performance to “Nazani” by Komitas before transitioning into a community dance workshop where participants learned tra- ditional Armenian dances including Tamzara, the Michigan Hop, and Mayroque. Rather than approaching the event like a formal presentation, organizers from the Nor Serount Cultural Associate Ellen Vartanyan and Sossi Lachinian, lead the event with a focus on creating an environment where people could directly ex- perience Armenian culture through art, language, dance, music, and storytelling.