Nowrooz or Norooz, Novrooz, Nowruz (New Day) is a traditional holiday, which celebrates the New Year, and the coming of spring. When Azerbaijan was part of the Soviet Union, celebration of Nowrooz was generally unofficial, and at times even prohibited. Currently in Azerbaijan, Nowrooz is treated as an official public holiday. In accordance with Article 105 of the Labor Code of Azerbaijan passed in 2006, workers receive five days off for Nowrooz. Usually preparation for Nowrooz begins a month prior to the festival. Each of forthcoming 4 weeks is devoted to one of the four elements and called accordingly in Azerbaijan. Each Tuesday people celebrate the day of one of the four elements - water, fire, earth and wind. People do house cleaning, plant trees, make new dresses, paint eggs, make national pastries such as shakarbura, pakhlava and a great variety of national cuisine.[4] Wheat is fried with kishmish (raisins) and nuts (govurga). As a tribute to fire-worshiping every Tuesday during four weeks before the holiday kids jump over small bonfires and candles are lit. On the holiday eve the graves of relatives are visited and tended.[5] Nowrooz is a family holiday. In the evening before the holiday the whole family gathers around the holiday table laid with various dishes to make the New Year rich. The holiday goes on for several days and ends with festive public dancing and other entertainment of folk bands, contests of national sports. In rural areas crop holidays are marked.[6] The decoration of the festive table is khoncha, a big silver or copper tray with Samani placed in the center and candles and dyed eggs by the number of family members around it. The table should be set, at least, with seven dishes. International Nowrooz Day was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly, in its resolution A/RES/64/253 of 2010, at the initiative of several countries that share this holiday Afghanistan, Albania, Azerbaijan, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkey and Turkmenistan. Inscribed in 2009 on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity as a cultural tradition observed by numerous peoples, Nowrooz is an ancestral festivity marking the first day of spring and the renewal of nature. It promotes values of peace and solidarity between generations and within families as well as reconciliation and neighborliness, thus contributing to cultural diversity and friendship among peoples and different communities.
Posted on: Mon, 10 Mar 2014 04:53:19 +0000
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