Khatchkars

Khatchkars are really cool things that people in Armenia have been making for over a thousand years! They are kind of like big, stone crosses that have lots of different designs carved into them with little chisels.

These designs can be lots of things, like pictures of flowers, animals, or people, or they can be words or symbols that are important to the people who made them. Each khatchkar is made by hand, which means that somebody has to use a little hammer and chisel to carefully carve each part of the design, one at a time.

One of the most special things about khatchkars is that they are actually kind of like prayers or wishes written in stone. People believe that when they make a khatchkar and carve these designs into it, they are asking for things like good luck, health, or safety for themselves or their families.

Khatchkars are not just meaningful for the people who make them, though - they are also really pretty! Some of them are covered in lots of different colors, like red or green or blue, that make them look very bright and happy. Other khatchkars are left just plain and natural, so that you can see the stone's pretty patterns and textures.

Even though they are made in Armenia, people all over the world love khatchkars because they are so special and unique. Some people even have them in their homes, or travel all the way to Armenia just to see them!