Novruz in Azerbaijan
novruz azerbaijan azerbaijani novruz bayramı traditional holiday celebrates astronomical spring equinox coming spring azerbaijan part soviet union celebration novruz generally unofficial time even prohibited currently azerbaijan novruz treated official public holiday accordance article labour code azerbaijan passed worker receive five day novruz neighbouring iran azerbaijan host longest observance number public day related novruz total including weekend five day usually preparation novruz begin month prior festival tuesday people celebrate day one four element – water fire wind soil people house cleaning plant tree make new dress paint egg make national pastry shekerbura pakhlava shorgoghal additional great variety national cuisine wheat fried kishmish raisin nut govurga tribute preislamic zoroastrian belief every tuesday four week holiday child jump small bonfire candle lit holiday eve graf relative visited tended novruz various traditional game show “koskosa” symbolizes coming spring “khidir ilyas” symbol fertility blossom fortunetelling held musical gathering folk singer sing song wrestler test strength novruz family holiday evening holiday whole family gather around holiday table laid various dish make new year rich holiday go several day end festive public dancing contest national sport entertainment folk band decoration festive table known khoncha large silver copper tray samani – green shoot wheat seed – placed centre candle dyed egg custom dictate table set least seven dish last four tuesday winter usually start last tuesday february novruz celebrated azerbaijani called “charshanba” according azerbaijani tradition “charshanbas” indicates end winter start spring according folk belief first charshanba represents water celebrates purifying nature second charshanba relates element fire believed action jumping bonfire lighting candle renews person purge illness allowing start spring positivity third charshanba azerbaijani tradition represents wind brings beginning spring air western region azerbaijan people call day black wednesday azerbaijani supposed visit restore graf relative fourth last charshanba represents earth known “torpag chershenbesi” “ilakhir charshanba” believed day nature revives azerbaijani consider charshanba important among four hold special tradition related day example seven variety food table name must start letter azerbaijani sumakh kind spice sud milk sirke vinegar samani prepared wheat folk tale say evening fourth charshanba possible young girl see future husband approaching mirror candle hand child knock door neighbouring house leave hat bag hoping candy dessert specially prepared holiday shakarbura pakhlava novruz holiday various song related novruz sung different activity tightrope walking wrestling take place public square another ceremony growing samani plate symbolises fertility spring one especially notable portion festival traditional comedic performance story kosa kecel – permanent character holiday narrative persona fighting represent conflict winter spring end ceremony kecel win duel indicating victory spring winter novruz holiday last around week azerbaijan entire family gather home sit around table symbolizing spent year together last night year family member sprinkle water mean get rid difficulty old year mandatory day serve seven dish begin letter azerbaijani language holiday door locked symbolizes hospitality host first day novruz house must lit whole night putting light related bad luck jumping seven time fire believed fire burn hardness last year must mirror burning candle table mirror symbol happiness light candle keep evil spirit away house according belief azerbaijan weather first day novruz indicates spring second day summer third day autumn fourth winter