Mythologies of the Garoghlanian Tribe

The Garoghlanian tribe is from Armenia. They ended up settling in areas such as Fresno, California. Part of the tribe's culture is trying to find a sense of placement and self in a new and modern setting. The Garoghlanian tribe is a group that operates in this modern predicament while clinging to values of the past, of their native Armenia. This becomes one of the fundamental principles of the tribe. The fact that Byro interacts with the boys, whom he knows has stolen his horse, with a sense of compassion and understanding is one element that underscores the Garoghlanian tribe, which sees itself as a type of family. The idea of respecting the bonds between individuals becomes extremely important to this group of Armenians, one of many that had to have experienced displacement and the rupturing of such connections with the Armenian Genocide at the hands of the Turks after World War I. They also understand that the value and thereby the use of property belong to those with spirit and understanding, not only money. A horse, after all, is a living being, not a thing like the burning house that Uncle Khosrove so easily dismisses. John Byro knows who has taken his horse, and he hints not to the boys but to the boy's relatives that he knows, but he does not force the issue by demanding his horse back. To insult the honor of the Garoghlanian family would cause much more trouble than the loss of a horse, disruptingthe peace of the community.

“The Summer of the Beautiful White Horse” is narrated by a nine-year-old Armenian boy named Aram, a member of the Garoghlanian tribe, living among the lush fruit orchards and vineyards of the San Joaquin Valley in California. One morning Aram is awakened at four in the morning by his thirteen-year-old cousin Mourad, who is said to be the 'crazy streak' in their tribe by everyone except Aram, and has a way with animals. Aram is astonished to see that Mourad is sitting on a beautiful white horse. Aram had always wanted to ride a white horse, but his family is too poor to afford one. However, despite being poor, the Garoghlanian tribe is noted for its honesty and trust, as a result, it is unthinkable that Mourad would have stolen the horse. Aram felt that his cousin couldn't have stolen the horse and that 'stealing a horse for a ride was not the same thing as stealing something else, such as money'. Mourad's crazy behaviour was considered to be of natural descent from their uncle Khosrove, even though his father, Zorab, was a practical man. Uncle Khosrove was an enormous man who was always furious, impatient, and irritable. He would roar for everyone to stop talking and say It is no harm, pay no attention to it. In fact, one day, when his son came and told them that their house was on fire, Khosrove silenced him by roaring "Enough. It is no harm". Aram was invited to ride on the horse with Mourad. The idea of Mourad stealing the horse drained away from Aram's mind when he felt that it wouldn't become stealing unless they offer to sell the horse. They enjoyed rides on the horse for a few hours. After a short time of riding, Mourad wanted to ride alone on the horse. Aram had the same longing, but when he sat on the horse and kicked its muscles it reared and snorted and raced forward towards the vineyard of Dikran Halabian, eventually dropping Aram off its back. After half an hour they found the horse and hid it in the barn of a deserted vineyard of a farmer named Fetvajian which had once been his pride. That afternoon, an Assyrian farmer named John Byro—a friend of the Garoghlanians—came to Aram's house. He reported to Aram's mother that his white horse which had been stolen a month ago was still missing. Hearing this, Aram concludes that, Mourad must have had the horse for a long time. Khosrove, who was at Aram's house when Byro came, shouted -“it's no harm" to such an extent that Byro was forced to leave to avoid responding.

The Garoghlanian tribe is a historical Armenian tribe known for its distinct cultural traditions and contributions to Armenian heritage. Originating primarily from the areas around the town of Garogh (modern-day regions in Armenia), they have been recognized for their skills in craftsmanship, agriculture, and community organization. The tribe played an important role in maintaining Armenian cultural identity through folk arts, traditional music, and oral storytelling. Over time, members of the Garoghlanian tribe have spread across various parts of Armenia and the Armenian diaspora, continuing to preserve their unique cultural legacy. The Summer of the Beautiful White Horse begins with nine-year-old Aram Garoghlanian being awoken by his thirteen-year-old cousin, Mourad, who is riding a white horse. Aram questions where Mourad acquired the horse and Mourad implies he had stolen it. Aram considers this in light of the Garoghlanian tribe’s reputation as being an exceptionally honest family. Mourad convinces Aram to come with him to ride the horse through the fertile orchards that surround their home in Fresno. Aram asks for a chance to ride the horse alone, and eventually Mourad agrees. When he is alone on the horse, he is thrown off and the boys spend their time bringing the horse back. Mourad tells Aram that he has a place to hide the horse during the day, a barn on an abandoned vineyard. Mourad has been hiding the horse there, and he keeps hiding the horse in the same barn, giving Aram time to learn to ride, though he continues to be thrown by the horse. A farmer who lives ten miles away, John Byro, comes to visit the boys' uncle, Khosrove, who tells him to pay no attention to the problem. Byro later encounters the boys on the horse, believing that the horse looks exactly like his horse, even looking at its teeth. He lets the children ride off with the horse, but they return it to Byro’s farm the next day.