What is the holiday Navruz?

This is the day of the beginning of the new year according to the solar calendar. It symbolizes renewal, awakening of nature, victory of light over darkness, warmth over cold, good over evil. The name translated from Persian means “new day”.

History of Navruz

The holiday is associated with Zoroastrianism, one of the oldest religions in the world, which originated in the territory of modern Iran. It appeared more than 3,000 years ago in Persia, and then spread beyond its borders, covering the territory of Central Asia, the Caucasus, the Middle East and other regions.

In different historical periods, Navruz was either supported by rulers or persecuted, especially during the Islamic period, when some religious figures considered it a pagan holiday. However, despite all the prohibitions, Navruz survived and became part of the culture of many peoples.

Nowruz and the Spring Equinox

The holiday is inextricably linked with the astronomical phenomenon of the vernal equinox, when the length of day and night equalizes, and astronomical spring begins. Astronomers know what date this happens, usually March 20 or 21.

In which countries is Navruz celebrated?

As we have already mentioned, the celebration of Navruz is typical for a number of cultures in Central Asia, the Caucasus, the Middle East and even the Balkans.

Nowruz in Iran

Iran is considered the birthplace of Nowruz, and it has a special meaning for the country. In the Iranian state, it is the official New Year, which is celebrated with great fanfare. Preparations begin long before March 20 or 21: people do spring cleaning (khane-tekami), prepare special treats, buy new clothes.

The main symbol of the celebration in Iran is considered to be Haft-sin – a festive table on which seven symbolic objects are placed, the names of which begin with the letter “S” (sin) in Persian:

• Sabzeh (greenery) is a symbol of growth and renewal.
• Senjed (sea buckthorn) is a symbol of love and wisdom.
• Sir (garlic) is a symbol of protection and health.
• Sib (apple) is a symbol of beauty and fertility.
• Somak (sumac) is a symbol of sunrise.
• Serkeh (vinegar) is a symbol of patience and wisdom.
• Samanu (sweet pudding made from sprouted wheat) is a symbol of abundance and prosperity.

In Iran, the holiday weekend lasts 13 days, and the last day of Nowruz, Sizdah Bedar, is usually spent outdoors (for example, having picnics).

Navruz in Azerbaijan

In Azerbaijani culture, Navruz is also a public holiday, which is widely celebrated. The holiday traditions are in many ways similar to those in Iran: people clean their houses in advance, paint eggs, and prepare traditional dishes such as shekerbura, baklava, and gogal (we will talk about traditional treats later).

Before the holiday, Azerbaijan celebrates Charyshambalar (Thursdays) – four weeks preceding Navruz, each of which is dedicated to one of the elements:

• Su chershenbesi (Water Thursday) – renewal of water.
• Od Chershenbesi (Fire Thursday) – purification by fire.
• Torpag Chershenbesi (Earth Thursday) – the revival of nature.
• Yel Chershenbesi (Air Thursday) – awakening of life.

On the holiday itself, Azerbaijanis organize horse races, folk festivals, and jump over bonfires, which symbolizes cleansing from everything bad.

Navruz in Central Asia

The holiday is celebrated in Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan. In these countries it is also considered official, and in Tajikistan it is even called “Idi Navruz” (Navruz-bairam).

Features of the celebration

• In Tajikistan, the main dish is sumalak (sumanak) – a sweet made from sprouted wheat, which is prepared by the whole family.
• In Uzbekistan, plov, halva and Easter cakes are a must on the table, and there are mass celebrations in the streets.
• In Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, a traditional drink called nauryz-kozhe is prepared from seven ingredients (milk, water, rice, meat, salt, wheat and spices).
• In Turkmenistan, the celebration is accompanied by sports competitions, horse racing and folk dancing.

Navruz in Turkey and Arab countries

In Turkey, Iraq and Syria, Nowruz is celebrated mainly by Kurds, as well as residents of the eastern provinces, where Iranian cultural traditions are strong. Turkish Kurds call this day “Nevruz” – and for them it has become a symbol of the struggle for freedom. On this day, bonfires are lit, songs are sung, and traditional “halpay” dances are performed.

In Egypt and Lebanon, they know about Nowruz, but they don’t celebrate it widely.

Whereas in the Persian Gulf countries (Saudi Arabia, UAE) the holiday is practically not celebrated, as it is considered “non-Islamic”.

International recognition of the holiday

For a long time, Navruz remained traditional for the Persian and Turkic peoples, but over time its significance went beyond the borders of individual countries.

The first step towards international recognition was taken at the end of the 20th century, when countries celebrating Nowruz began to promote it as a symbol of intangible cultural heritage.

In 2010, at the initiative of countries where Navruz is considered a national holiday, the UN General Assembly officially recognized March 21 as the International Day of Navruz. This became an important milestone in the history of the holiday, as its status was consolidated at the international level.

Thus, today Navruz is officially celebrated in more than 15 countries. Moreover, even in those countries and individual cities where the holiday is not celebrated globally, Navruz festivals are held.

Traditions and customs of Navruz

As a rule, Navruz is not a single festive day of celebration, but a whole period characterized by preparation, special rituals and menu. We will examine them in more detail in this section.

“Schedule” and preparation

Preparations for the celebration usually begin well in advance. Moreover, one of the main traditions of preparation is considered to be purification – both physical and spiritual.

Hane Tekani

This is the name for spring general cleaning of the house. It is customary to take out the trash, wash the windows, throw away old and unnecessary things, update the furniture and even do repairs (at least paint the walls). This ritual symbolizes getting rid of all the bad things that have accumulated over the past year and preparing for a new stage of life.

In addition to cleaning, it is customary to buy new clothes, update household utensils, and decorate the home with flowers and greenery, symbolizing spring.

Chaharshanbe-Suri (Fiery Wednesday)

A few days before Navruz, on Tuesday evening (the eve of the last Wednesday before the holiday), Chaharshanbe-Suri, the festival of fire, is celebrated.

The main ritual of this night is jumping over fires. People light fires and jump over them, saying the phrase:

Zardi-man az then, sorhii az man.

This translates as “My yellowness to you, your redness to me” and symbolizes the transfer of diseases and disasters to fire and the receipt of strength, energy and health from it.

Also on this night, people set off firecrackers, bang spoons on pots (similar to “caroling”) and ask neighbors for treats.

The last day of the holiday

The final (thirteenth) day of Navruz is called “Sizda Bedar”. On this day, people are sure to go out into nature (otherwise, according to legend, those who disobey will be haunted by misfortunes and misfortunes in the new year), have picnics, fly kites, have fun and relax.

One of the most important traditions of this day is the release of greenery (sabze) into the water. The seeds that were sprouted for Navruz are thrown into the river or running water – this is a symbol of farewell to the old year.

How Navruz is celebrated

Navruz is accompanied by cheerful folk festivities, meetings with relatives, street concerts, sports competitions and traditional rituals.

So, the main customs include:

• Lighting fires and jumping over them.
• Exchange of gifts.
• Festive feasts.
• Swinging (especially in Central Asia).
• Coloring eggs.

What dishes are prepared?

Navruz is a holiday of abundance, so on this day many dishes are prepared that symbolize prosperity, happiness and health.

So, the most popular treats can be considered:

• Sumalak / sumanak (Tajikistan, Uzbekistan) is a sweet dish made from sprouted wheat that is prepared by the whole family.
• Nauryz-koje (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan) – soup made from 7 ingredients (milk, water, meat, wheat, salt, rice, spices).
• Plov is a traditional dish in Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Azerbaijan.
• Shekerbura, baklava, gogal are popular sweet treats in Azerbaijan that symbolize wealth.
• Sabzi Polo (green pilaf) is a traditional Iranian pilaf with greens and fish, symbolizing an increase in prosperity.
• Haft-sin is a special table of 7 products starting with the letter “S” (we talked about this in the section “Navruz in Iran”).

Why do people paint eggs on Navruz?

Painted eggs are considered one of the most important symbols of Navruz. They symbolize life, rebirth and protection from evil forces.

The tradition of painting eggs dates back to Zoroastrian culture and is associated with the cycle of renewal of nature. On the festive table, eggs are placed together with other symbols of Navruz.

In some regions, it is also common to roll eggs on the floor or hold competitions. It is believed that the one whose nut or egg remains intact after the blow will be happy all year.

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