Novruz is celebrated in many countries spanning from Central Asia to the Balkans, including Albania. In Azerbaijan, Novruz is one of the oldest, most traditional, and most beloved holidays, celebrated over several days. It marks the arrival of spring and is celebrated on the vernal equinox, March 20-21 – the beginning of the astronomical New Year. The celebrations last for several days, and preparations for them begin early, at the end of the last month of winter.
The origins of Novruz date back to ancient customs and rituals associated with the cult of nature and fertility, as well as beliefs about the decline and revival of nature. The universe consists of four elements – water, fire, earth and air (wind). The Tuesdays of Novruz are also based on these elements. The Tuesdays are celebrated every year a month before the Novruz holiday.
The first is called Water Tuesday. This means that, as spring approaches, the ice-covered areas in the mountains melt and flow into rivers, while the earth slowly begins to get wet. The second is Fire Tuesday. From this time on, the sun gradually warms the earth and begins to awaken it. On this day, bonfires and candles are lit in the name of each family member. The third Tuesday is Air (Wind). The wind gradually warms the already awakened earth, shakes the branches of the trees, awakens them from winter hibernation, opens their buds, drives away the clouds, bringing warm spring. The last Tuesday is Earth Tuesday. The sun has already warmed the earth and given it life.
The most important of these Tuesdays (Charshanba) is the last one, called “Akhir Charshanba”, which is today – March 17. On this traditional day there are many things to do; the house must be cleaned and the festive food must be prepared. Saman (freshly harvested green wheat) is a symbol of Novruz and is grown in advance so that it is ready on the table on the night of the celebration. Along with saman, painted eggs and baked holiday sweets create the festive atmosphere. The day before the holiday, people meet to congratulate each other. Candles are lit at the festive tables and wishes are made. The number of candles corresponds to the number of family members. In the evening, children place their hats under their neighbors’ doors and hide, waiting for the neighbors to fill them with festive gifts. After sunset, people gather in the streets to light bonfires, dance around them, and jump over them in order to cleanse their souls and ward off evil spirits.
One of the essential parts of the holiday table is the Khoncha – a tray filled with sweets, nuts, candles and other treats. Neighbors, relatives and friends send each other trays filled with sweets. On the second day of Novruz, people visit the graves of relatives and friends to honor their memory. Novruz is also a time for mass gatherings and celebrations. On this day, concerts of Ashiq and folk music are held throughout the country. Tightrope acrobats demonstrate their skills, pehlevans (wrestlers) compete with each other, while on the streets there are comedy shows featuring two characters, Kos-Kosa (goat beard) and Kechal (bald man). Kos-Kosa represents winter, while Kechal – spring. In their verbal contest, Kechal always comes out the winner.
Since 2009, the holiday of Nowruz, which is also celebrated in a number of countries in the region and beyond, has been included in UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. At the 64th session of the UN General Assembly, March 21 was declared International Nowruz Day.
To my knowledge, Albania and Azerbaijan are the only European countries where Novruz is an official holiday. For my part, I can see that in some countries this holiday is mistakenly associated with religious belief, and sometimes even considered pagan by opponents. In Azerbaijan, Novruz is associated only with the arrival of spring, the new year and the rebirth of nature. It is one of the most beloved holidays in my country because of the time when it is celebrated and the traditions that accompany it.
Anar Huseynov
Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Albania
