Novruz In Azerbaijan: A Time Of Celebration And Unity

Novruz is a traditional holiday in Azerbaijan that celebrates the spring equinox and the coming of spring. It is an official public holiday, and workers receive five days off. Novruz is celebrated on the 20th, 21st and 22nd of March, and preparation for the festival begins a month prior. Each Tuesday, people celebrate the day of one of the four elements: water, fire, wind and soil.

Novruz traditions and customs

Novruz is a traditional holiday in Azerbaijan that celebrates the spring equinox and the coming of spring. It is a public holiday and workers receive five days off. The celebration of Novruz begins a month before the festival, with each Tuesday dedicated to one of the four elements: water, fire, wind and soil.

On the first Tuesday, people celebrate the purifying nature of water. On the second Tuesday, they honour fire, jumping over bonfires and lighting candles to renew themselves and start spring with positivity. The third Tuesday is dedicated to wind, which brings the coming of spring on the air. The fourth and final Tuesday, known as 'Ilakhir Charshanba' or 'Torpag Chershenbesi', represents earth and is considered the most important. On this day, nature is believed to revive, and there should be seven varieties of food on the table, all beginning with the letter 's' in Azerbaijani.

During the four weeks of celebrations, people clean their houses, plant trees, make new clothes, paint eggs and prepare national pastries such as shekerbura, pakhlava, shorgoghal and badambura, as well as a great variety of other dishes. Wheat is fried with raisins and nuts, and candles are lit as a tribute to pre-Islamic Zoroastrian beliefs. On the eve of Novruz, families gather, and the graves of relatives are visited and tended.

On the first day of Novruz, the holiday begins with people rising early and visiting bodies of water, where they wash and treat each other with sweets. They eat something sweet and smell fragrant smoke to ward off evil spirits. The holiday table is decorated with a large silver or copper tray with 'samani' (green shoots from wheat seeds) in the centre, along with candles and dyed eggs. There should be at least seven dishes, all beginning with the letter 's'. A mirror is placed on the table, symbolising happiness, and a painted egg is placed on the mirror. When the egg moves, the new year begins, and everyone wishes each other a happy new year.

During Novruz, various traditional games and shows are held, such as 'Kos-kosa' and 'Khidir Ilyas', as well as fortune-telling, wrestling and tightrope walking. The holiday lasts several days and ends with public dancing, contests of national sports and entertainment from folk bands.

The history of Novruz

Novruz, also known as Novruz Bayramı in Azerbaijani, is a traditional holiday celebrating the spring equinox and the coming of spring. It is a public holiday in Azerbaijan, where people receive five days off work.

Novruz has a long history, with scientists dating the holiday to the period of the prophet Zardush, between 3500 and 5000 years ago. It is believed to have been celebrated in ancient Babylon for 12 days starting on 21 March or April. According to the first inscription, the holiday was established in 505 B.C.

During the Soviet period, the celebration of Novruz was generally unofficial and sometimes prohibited. Despite this, Azerbaijani families continued to celebrate the holiday in secret, following centuries-old traditions.

Novruz is a family holiday, with the whole family gathering around a table on the evening before the holiday. The holiday lasts several days and includes various traditional games, shows, and musical gatherings.

The preparation for Novruz usually begins a month before the festival, with each of the four Tuesdays before the holiday dedicated to one of the four elements: water, fire, wind, and soil. People clean their houses, plant trees, make new clothes, paint eggs, and prepare traditional pastries and cuisine. As a tribute to pre-Islamic Zoroastrian beliefs, children jump over small bonfires, and candles are lit. On the eve of the holiday, people visit and tend the graves of their relatives.

The significance of Novruz

Novruz is a significant festival in Azerbaijan, marking the spring equinox and the first day of spring and the new year. It is a public holiday, with workers receiving five days off. It is a time for family, with the whole family gathering around a table of food to symbolise that they have spent a year together.

The festival is an ancient one, dating back to the time of the prophet Zardush, between 3500 and 5000 years ago. It is rooted in Zoroastrianism and has been celebrated for over 3000 years in the Balkans, the Black Sea Basin, the Caucasus, Central Asia, the Middle East and other regions. It is a festival that has been observed by Persians and other Iranian peoples, but is now celebrated by many ethnicities worldwide.

The festival is rich with traditions and rituals, including fire and water ceremonies, games, gift exchanges, poetry and dance. In Azerbaijan, the festival is preceded by four Tuesdays, each celebrating one of the four elements: water, fire, wind and soil. On the holiday eve, relatives' graves are visited and tended.

The festival is also a time for celebration and joy, with music, dancing, and feasting. The holiday table is known as a khoncha, and is decorated with a large silver or copper tray with samani (green shoots from wheat seeds) in the centre, along with candles and dyed eggs. There should be at least seven dishes, all beginning with the letter 's' in Azerbaijani.

Novruz celebrations in Azerbaijan

Novruz is a public holiday in Azerbaijan, marking the coming of spring and the new year. It is celebrated annually on the 20th, 21st and 22nd of March, coinciding with the vernal equinox. Novruz is a highly anticipated event in Azerbaijan, with people starting their preparations and festivities four weeks before the holiday.

Pre-Novruz Traditions

Each of the four Tuesdays preceding Novruz is dedicated to one of the four elements: water, fire, wind and soil. People perform various rituals and activities on these days, such as house cleaning, planting trees, making new clothes, and preparing traditional pastries and dishes. Jumping over small bonfires and lighting candles are also customary, symbolising purification and renewal.

Novruz Eve and Day

On Novruz eve, families gather around a table adorned with a khoncha—a large silver or copper tray decorated with samani (green wheat shoots), candles, and dyed eggs. It is customary to have at least seven dishes, all starting with the letter 's' in Azerbaijani, such as sumakh (a spice), sud (milk), and sirke (vinegar). The whole family stays up late, and on the first day of Novruz, they greet the sunrise, often near a body of water, to symbolise a fresh start. They exchange sweets and treats, and the day is spent feasting, singing, dancing, and playing traditional games.

Post-Novruz Celebrations

The Novruz holiday lasts several days, and the festivities continue even after the main event. The celebrations include public dancing, contests of national sports, folk band performances, and equestrian competitions. The holiday is a time for reconciliation, and it is considered a sin not to forgive those who admit their guilt.

A Holiday of Equality

Novruz is a holiday that brings people from different backgrounds together. It is celebrated by Azerbaijanis of all faiths and cultures, and it is known for its democratic philosophy, promoting equality, mutual respect, and social cohesion.

The date of Novruz

Novruz is an ancient festival in Azerbaijan, marking the coming of spring and the new year. It is celebrated on the vernal equinox, which falls on 20, 21 or 22 March, and is an official public holiday.

The Novruz holiday is preceded by a month of preparation, with each of the four Tuesdays before the festival dedicated to one of the four elements: water, fire, wind and soil. The first Tuesday is Su Charshabnasi (Water Tuesday), the second is Odlu Charshanba (Fire Tuesday), the third is Torpag Charshanba (Earth Tuesday) and the fourth is Akhir Charshanba (Wind Tuesday).

On the day of the equinox, the last day of the old year, families gather for a feast. The head of the family says a prayer, and no one is allowed to eat without their permission. When a gun is fired, the meal begins. The family then stays up all night with the house fully lit, as turning off the light is considered bad luck.

The next morning, the first day of the New Year, people go to a river or spring to wash themselves and each other with water, which symbolises cleanliness and freshness. They also treat each other to sweets, and it is customary to eat something sweet like honey or sugar. People also smell fragrant smoke to ward off evil spirits.

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