No more than a decade ago the Armenian New Year celebration was a predictable family affair kept at home with local or Russian television as entertainment.

But time and circumstances have changed and so, too, are traditions.

“The number of people wishing to spend New Year abroad goes up with each year,” says Anna Gabrielyan, travel consultant from Levon Travel agency. “I think the tendency is because people changed their perception of holidays and vacation. For example many couples prefer now a wedding trip abroad instead of having a big wedding. We met a couple who married in fall, but waited for New Year to go abroad for the honey moon.”