In his 1926 book When I was a Boy in Armenia, Manoog Der Alexanian recounts his experiences celebrating the longstanding Armenian custom of Trndez, which he describes as a day the Armenian people build bonfires and dance around them. “Many young men consider it great fun and a clever thing to jump over the bonfire,” Der Alexanian writes in his memoir, “but through such daring, there have been those who have fallen into the fire and been badly burned.” Next time February rolls around, don’t forget to be extra careful while joining in on the traditional fun! Check out Harvard-grad Manoog Der Alexanian’s 1926 book in its entirety here. It is a sincere look into a life in the old country and a delightful book for all ages to learn the history, lifestyle, and cultural practices of Western Armenia, seen through the eyes of a young boy. (Photo: The cover of When I was a Boy in Armenia; worthpoint.com)