Novruz Holiday
Celebration of Novruz in Nakhchivan, Azerbaijan
Novruz holiday is a feast of spring, start of New Year in Azerbaijan. Novruz celebrations are one of the most interesting, favorite and important events in this country. Traditionally, Azerbaijanis start festivities 4 Wednesdays arrival of spring, before 21st of March and celebrate on the vernal equinox – the beginning of the astronomical New Year, symbolizing end of the Old year and beginning of the New year:
- Su Chershenbe (Water Wednesday);
- Odlu Chershenbe (Fire Wednesday);
- Torpag Chershenbe (Earth Wednesday);
- Akhyr Chershenbe (Last Wednesday).
According to the traditional beliefs the water is reborn on the first Wednesday: still waters come to motion; The fire reborn on the second one, the earth – on the third. On the fourth Wednesday the wind opens tree buds and spring begins.
Novruz holiday is full of ceremonies and traditions. Here is one, for example. In the evening each family light the number of torches on their house’s roof corresponding to the number of the family members. Everyone in the family should jump over the burning fire saying a special spell. After the fire dies out girls and young men collect the remaining ash and pour it somewhere in the outskirts of the village or a road.
The most significant one among charshanbas is “Akhyr Cheshenbe. On “Akhyr Cheshenbe” before dark there comes the time of fortune telling. Azerbaijani girls and young men sneak to doors of their neighbors and “overheard” their conversation; then on the basis of the first words they have heard they try to tell their fortune and guess if their wishes will come true.
Among Novruz holiday ceremonies the most important one is the grown of samani (wheatgrass, grew in a plate) which is a symbol of fertility, Novruz.
Today in Azerbaijan the official celebration of Novruz holiday comes on March 21st. On the first day of the New year it is a tradition to rise early in the morning. If it is possible people go where water is -to a river or a spring: wash themselves, splash water on each other. Water is a symbol of cleanliness and freshness.
The holiday table on this day is very special. It is essential on this day to have seven dishes whose names begin with the letter “s”. They are sumakh, skad (milk), sirke (vinegar), samani (aspecial millet porridge), sabzi (greens) etc . Along with samani painted eggs and baked holiday sweets -pakhlava, shakarbura set a festival mood. All these have a symbolical significance. Azerbaijanis put the painted egg on the mirror. As soon as the egg moves the New Year begins. Everyone sitting at the table starts wishing a happy new year to each other. One of the essential parts of the holiday table is “Khoncha (xonca)” – a tray filled with sweets, nuts, candles and other treats. But the main meal of Novruz table is “pilaf”. The day before the holiday people meet to congratulate each other.
On the first day of Novruz Ropewalkers demonstrate their skills, pehlevans (wrestlers) compete against each other, comedy performances with the participation of two characters, Kos-Kosa (goat beard) and Kechal (the bald), are held on the streets. Kos-Kosa represents the winter, Kechal – the spring. In the verbal competition Kechal always comes out a winner.
At the fourth session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage which took place from September 28 to October 2, 2009, multinational nomination “Novruz, Nowruz, Nooruz, Navruz, Nauroz, Nevruz” of Azerbaijan, India, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Turkey and Uzbekistan was inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
The ancient spring holiday – Novruz bairamy – is one of the oldest and most beautiful Azerbaijani traditions.
By Natig Pashayev