Strange country lets 6-month-olds choose future careers

When their first tooth erupts, Armenian children are given a ceremony where they choose one of several objects that symbolize their future profession.

As a former Soviet republic, Armenia has a culture that is a cross between Asia and Europe. One of the country's parenting methods is to let children think about their careers from 6 months old, according to Repat Armenia.

When a baby's first tooth appears, usually between four and seven months, Armenians hold a ceremony called "agra hadig" or "atam hatik." Objects representing various professions are lined up in front of a child. A microphone represents an entertainer, a stethoscope represents a doctor, scissors represent a tailor, or money represents a bank manager. Whichever object the child chooses first is said to be a sign of the child's professional abilities.

Yulia Antonyan, professor of cultural studies at Yerevan State University, Armenia's capital, said that when children start teething, they start eating solid foods, and the timing of their acquisition of this adult skill is appropriate for predicting their future career..

Armenian babies with just grown teeth are held a ceremony to choose their future profession. Photo: Lolwwot

There are no mandatory items for the ceremony, but the available kits often include traditional craft tools and a selection of modern day life simulations. Parents are free to add or remove items as they wish.

“Parents can shape their child’s future life by choosing only those objects that represent the prestigious professions they hope their child will pursue. A book represents a scientist or writer, a pencil is a sign of an architect, while a computer says your child will become an accountant,” added Professor Antonyan.

Parents can also steer their children toward certain choices by placing objects close to or far from their reach. In a recent ceremony, a father asked that the dipper be placed far away to save his daughter from the fate of a housewife.

"The ritual of predicting future careers has developed a lot in the urbanized and modernized environment, but it still has a decisive meaning in the child's life," he commented.

The significance of this ritual is reflected in its name, which refers to the magical connection between teeth (agra or atam) and grain (hadig or hatik). The ceremony begins by pouring grain over and around the child. The child’s head is usually protected by a cloth, a pair of hands, or sometimes an umbrella. Armenians believe that this will ensure that the child will have healthy, straight teeth.

Today, tooth-shaped candies, balloons, and toys are popular at celebrations widely practiced in the Armenian community.

However, in the ancient documents of traditional rituals, only two objects were placed before a teething baby in the 19th century. The child's choice then had to do not with the future profession but with the sex of the next child in the family. The knife represented a younger brother, while the comb or mirror represented a younger sister.

According to VNE