NOWRUZ HOLIDAY

THE NOWRUZ HOLIDAY

Azerbaijan – the country sacredly observing the centuries-old national traditions. Traditions accompany Azerbaijanians from the moment of the birth and throughout all life: courtship, birth of children, holidays, harvesting and many other things. Besides, many traditions of Azerbaijan are embodied in hospitality of the original people, his culture, ancient beliefs, national clothes, festivities and entertainments.

Elements and cults of various beliefs existing in his territory are reflected in traditions of Azerbaijan. Today many carefully kept national traditions can be observed during the dramatized representations on national holidays or on celebrations in honor of a meeting of guests of honor.

One of such traditions is the Holiday Nowruz

Nowruz – is annually celebrated in Azerbaijan five days, including March 20 and 21, day of the vernal equinox. Days of carrying out the holiday Nowruz for the next year are defined and appear to the population until the end of December. The holiday is celebrated in honor of arrival of spring, updating of the nature. In days of Nowruz by national tradition light fires, prepare various sweets (a shekerbura, a badambura, baklava, I gogat), dress up a honcha (the entertainment collected on a tray), land semen, paint over boiled eggs and so forth.

In the first day of Nowruz get up early. All wish each other fertile and happy New year. By tradition all treat each other with sweets. These days it is necessary to eat something sweet in the morning (more often honey or sugar). There is a custom to paint boiled eggs and to check them in a game for durability. One more curious custom is guessing in Nowruz eve — unleashing of knot.

The holiday Nowruz is an opportunity to carry out many interesting ceremonies and rituals.

Here one of them. For example in the evening each family lights so many torches how many people live in family on the rooftop. All members have to jump through the burning fire, saying at the same time a special spell. After the fire goes out, girls and young men collect ashes and pour out it on the suburb of the settlement or on the road. Cleaning fire of a fire symbolically burns all last failures, even reminiscence of which is removed from memory and from the house together with ashes.

According to one more belief that unmarried girls were happy, with water throw "black" coins into a jug in the afternoon – signs of misfortune, and in the evening, before a sunset, splash out this water together with coins on the street.

Before dark in day "last the chershenba" could guess. The Azerbaijani girls and young men usually approached to the doors of neighbors and "eavesdropped" on their conversation, and then, proceeding from the first heard words, drew conclusions about execution of their desires. This day many families also guessed according to the book by Hafez Shirazi.

Among holiday ceremonies, the ceremony of preparation of ritual food of a semena (wheat which has sprouted in a plate) which symbolizes fertility is considered the basic and has cult value. The ceremony of preparation of a semena is followed by ritual songs and dances.

The last day of old year is also considered at Azerbaijanians a special holiday. In holiday day all family gathers at home. For the head the special tyufyachok crept. The father of family makes a Mohammedan prayer, then says a prayer. Without his permission nobody dares to touch food. As soon as the shot informing on the beginning of a meal sounds, the hostess brings milk pilaf. The gate opened in holiday and doors of houses informed guests that the host. Come to a festive meeting, the eldest son or the nephew of the host met. Having sprinkled hands of the comer with pink water, they invited him to the house. According to the sign of the owner immediately brought tea for the guest. Such visits were paid within three days. Then there came the turn of the women celebrating Nowruz week.

And in the last night of old year all family members sprinkled each other water before going to bed "to wash away" all adversities of old year.

And there comes the holiday. All put on new clothes and festivities begin. In days of celebration of Nowruz nobody worked.

The holiday Nowruz is celebrated in Azerbaijan on March 21, and this day is the day off. In the first day of New year it is accepted to get up early. Where it is possible, people seek to go to the river or the spring: wash, splash water at each other. Water — a symbol of purity and freshness. In the same place treat each other with sweets. This day it is necessary to eat something sweet in the morning – honey, candies, sugar. Then it is necessary to inhale fragrant smoke that serves as a symbol of release from "evil spirits".

Holiday table this day – special. On a table surely there has to be a food consisting of seven dishes which name begins with the letter "with". It is a poison ivy (seasoning), сюд (milk), to a sirka (vinegar), semen, sabz (greens), etc. Krom of the listed dishes on a table the mirror, a candle and colored egg are put. Everything listed has symbolical value. A candle – fire preserving the person against evil spirits. Egg and a mirror symbolize end of old year and approach of the first day new. Azerbaijanians put colored egg on a mirror. And as soon as egg will shake – there comes New year. All sitting at a table begin to congratulate each other.

As a rule, in holidays entrance doors aren't locked. It means that the family of the house and is glad to welcome guests. And children these days visit acquaintances and relatives, with sacks where those put festive gifts.

In the first day of New year in each family light, the sign of wellbeing all night long has to burn. It is impossible to extinguish fire at all – on beliefs it can draw misfortune.

Celebration of New year comes to the end in the afternoon for the 13th day of Nowruz. This day mass festivities, ancient games — jumps on camels and horses, various competitions in which on an equal basis with men girls and women participate are in the country held.