Novruz holiday March 20-24

The historical roots of the holiday Novruz date back to deep antiquity, to the time of the prophet Zardusht - its age is within 3,700 - 5,000 years.

Islam gave Novruz a shade of religiosity. Azerbaijan, the Land of Fire, has a rich tradition associated with the cult of fire and Novruz  in this cultural context is a symbol of purification from filth.

Azerbaijanis before the celebration of Novruz celebrate the four days of winter, which symbolized the end of the Old and the beginning of the New Year. We are talking about four holiday environments:

- Su Çərşənbəsi  (Wednesday on water );
- Od Çərşənbəsi (Wednesday on fire);
- Torpag Çərşənbəsi (Wednesday on earth);
- Yel  Çərşənbəsi - axır çərşənbə (Wednesday on wind - last Wednesday).

According to popular belief, water was renewed on the first Wednesday, and still water began to move. In the second the fire was renewed, in the third  the earth  and already on the fourth Wednesday the wind opened the buds of the trees, and according to folk signs, spring came.

Before Last Wednesday - last Tuesday before Novruz, bonfires are lit, and everyone, regardless of age and gender, must jump over the fertile fire, moreover, seven times. Seven times over one fire, or once over seven fires. When performing this ritual, you should say: "My yellowness is for you, your redness is for me." The fire never poured. After he himself goes out, the young men and women collect his ashes and carry him away from home. This means that all filth goes away with ashes.

Water purification is associated with ideas about it as a cleansing force. Jump over the creek to Novruz means that you washed away last year’s sins. There is a custom: pour water on each other on the last night of the year. There is a belief that on the night of the last Tuesday before Novruz the rivers and streams stop, everyone bows to them, even the trees lean to the ground. If someone drinks this water on New Year's Eve, they will not get sick.

Novruz peak is when the old year hands over the authority to the new. According to the ancient tradition, at this time, in honor of Novruz, cannons and guns are fired.

In Novruz, there should be seven dishes on the table, starting with the letter “s”, as well as sumac (dried barberry), vinegar, milk, semeni (sweet soup made of wheat malt with flour), syabzi (greens), etc. and candles, in front of the mirror - painted eggs. All of the above has a deeply symbolic meaning: a candle is a light or fire that protects a person from evil spirits, a mirror is a sign of clarity or the establishment of the New Year’s time. In the mythology of many peoples inhabiting our planet, the globe rests on the horns of a huge bull. During the year, this mythical bull gets tired and throws the globe from one horn to another, after which, according to legend, the New Year comes. In order to establish the completion of the old year and the onset of the first day of the new, the Azerbaijanis put a painted egg on the mirror. And as soon as the egg swings, it means that the bull "threw" the globe on another horn and the New Year came. All those sitting at this time at the table, seeing the symbolic swinging of the egg on the mirror, congratulate each other, kiss, embrace and wish each other happiness, health, success.

Novruz is a fun and favorite holiday. Novruz is a holiday that has absorbed the traditional values ​​of the Azerbaijani people.

Novruz Bayram or Novruz Holiday is one of the main national holidays for all Azerbaijanis. He is equally met both in the Land of Lights, and beyond its borders, in large Azerbaijani communities. A nationwide celebration is associated with pre-Islamic rites of sun worship and fertility of the inhabitants of Azerbaijan. Novruz glorifies the spring revival of nature, which is designed to bring people a better life. On this day, it is customary to forgive old grievances and make plans for a new rich harvest.

Traditional Azerbaijani sweets - shekbur, baklava, gogal, as well as juicy pilaf, kebabs and dyed eggs have always served as culinary symbols of Novruz. One of the indispensable attributes of the spring festival is “semeni” - wheat seeds germinated in a small dish. The ritual object forms on the holiday table a semblance of a small green field, surrounded by a scarlet ribbon.

The ancient traditions of Novruz Holiday in Azerbaijan are extremely reverent. Customs such as mass dance around large bonfires and the performance of traditional dances and songs are attempted by both residents of rural areas and Europeanized citizens. Among them is the old game “Papag atma”-trrowing a hat- which resembles the usual carols. During Novruz, it is customary to toss caps or small bags into the doorstep of houses, which every self-respecting owner must fill to the top with a tasty treat.

Novruz Bayram is unusually magnificently celebrated at the state level. The President and the first lady of Azerbaijan take part in the capital's celebrations. The most interesting events - parades, concerts, theatrical performances - are annually unfolding in the old quarter of Icheri Sheher in the southwestern part of Baku. One of the highlights of the holiday is the procession of a caravan of camels and phaetons carrying the favorite characters of Novruz - Dede Gorgud, Bakhar gyzy, Kechal and Kyosa.