Ramin Naziyev, Baku. Exclusively to Vestnik Kavkaza
Azerbaijanis have several ancient holidays which are connected with farming, cattle breeding, and harvest. Nowruz Bairam, which unites all these holidays, marks the waking of new life and nature. It is celebrated on the day of spring equinox. But people prepare for it from February.
Most of Nowruz’s traditions are connected with obeisance to water which is thought to be a symbol of absolution from sins and salvation. The holiday is marked for several days. It is thought to be not only the day of equinox, but equality of people and consolidation of the nation.
A traditional celebration includes jumps of a fire, dancing Yally, collective games. They are pictured in the caves of Qobustan which is one of the most ancient cradles of the world civilization. Today residents of neighboring villages come to the rock painting and execute holiday customs.
Azerbaijan is the country of oil, gas, and mud volcanoes. Fire of Apsheron had attracted many fire handlers from the wide territory from the Middle East to India to Azerbaijan for centuries. They recognize these lands as sacred. These are roots for fire customs and traditions of the holiday.
Ahead of Nowruz Azerbaijanis mark four last Tuesdays of winter – “ilakhyr chershenbe.” The Tuesdays symbolize earth, water, fire, and wind – four elements of existence.
In ancient times “Nowruz” was translated as “a new day” or “beginning of a new harvest.” Traditional for Azerbaijani Nowruz sweets are cooked: shaker-bura (pies with sweet nut filling), shor choreiy (a cake with spicy filling), bishi (a sweet butter cake), Cubin, Gyanzha, Baku baklava, faseli (butter cakes), kulcha (sweet bread), halva.
A person must not cut trees in Nowruz, but planting is a good sign. Mulberry, fig trees, chestnuts are traditionally planted in the holiday. Following the tradition, in Nowruz gardens and parks are established in Azerbaijan.
Those who wanted to build a house believed that the fundament was better to lay in Nowruz for the luck would always be in the house.
One of Nowruz’s rules say that in these days one must not curse, lie, rumor, i.e. not behave badly. People wear new clothes and clean their houses. Those who are in a conflict must make peace. It is a sin not to forgive the one who admits his guilt.
The second day Nowruz is called in Azerbaijan the Day of Fathers and Grandfathers. People attend graves of relatives and close friends.
Musical assemblies are gathered all over Azerbaijan in Nowruz. Artists and actors present their art on the streets and squares. People present to neighbors and friends sweets and little gifts.
