It was originally a Zoroastrian holiday accompanied with bonfires and regarded as the first day of the New Year. After long centuries Novruz has changed only slightly, obtaining new colours and shades in every country celebrating it.
In Azerbaijan Novruz begins long before the holiday itself while bonfires are still common. It brings families together. People paint eggs, make national pastries such as shakarbura or pakhlava and cook dishes from the national cuisine. It is common in every house to have a samani - wheat sprouts. As an ancient tribute to fire-worshiping, every Tuesday during the four weeks before the vernal equinox day children build bonfires, jump over them and ask the fire to take away all their misfortunes. Each of the four Tuesdays has a name as a way of respecting the Four Elements: Water, Fire, Wind (air), and Earth.
This week's Tuesday was the last Tuesday (Chershenbe) before March 21st. It is a holiday for most Azerbaijanis. People congratulate each other by saying “Axır Çerşenbeniz mübarek”, which means “Happy Last Tuesday!”. On this day Baku City Administration organized a celebratory event with the participation of famous folk tale characters, such as Spring girl, epos heros, etc. These folk tale characters brought the light taken from Ateshgah[1] to the Maiden Tower[2] as a symbol of the beginning of Novruz. The event was followed by a concert and ended up with a beautiful show of fireworks.
Novruz forebodes the beginning of a new time and a better life. Happy Earth Tuesday and Happy Spring to everybody!
Image: Celebration of Novruz in Azerbaijan.
[1] Ateshgah Fire Temple is a castle-like religious structure in Surakhani, suburb of Baku.
[2] Maiden Tower (Qız Qalası) is a tower in Old City, originally on the shore of the Caspian Sea
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1 comment:
I just discovered that Novruz is officially registered on the UNESCO List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity : http://www.unesco.org/culture/ich/index.php?RL=00282
Thanks Chinara for this text !!!
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