40 days to arrive, 40 days to leave: How Armenian culture honors life’s most important moments

Earlier this year, I gave birth to my fourth child. My baby and I entered "karasunk," the traditional Armenian 40-day postpartum period during which mother and newborn remain close to home, sheltered from the outside world.

'Karasunk' honors times of transition: periods when an old way of life has ended, but a new one has not yet fully begun. Pramote Polyamate/Moment via Getty Images Earlier this year, I gave birth to my fourth child. My baby and I entered “karasunk,” the traditional Armenian…