The main and favorite holiday of the Azerbaijanis is Novruz bayrami, which is literally translated as "holiday of spring". Novruz is an origin Muslim celebration of New Year. It is celebrated on March 20-21, when the nature is waking up and the spring accedes its throne, when new life is initiated. All the country is preparing for this holiday. Prospects and squares of the cities are decorated; the hostesses are making cleaning up all around. Factually, the preparation for the holiday starts one month to the holiday. Each of the coming four weeks - or rather three Wednesdays is devoted to one of four elements and named accordingly, though the names sometimes vary depending on the region. Four Wednesdays before the holiday are called Su Charshanba (Wednesday on water), Odlu Charshanba (Wednesday on Fire), Torpag Charshanba (Wednesday on Ground) and Akhir Charshanba (last Wednesday). According to the popular belief, water was renewed on first Wednesday and ditch-water started moving. On second - fire, one third - ground. On forth Wednesday wind was opening tree buds and according to the folk signs, spring was coming. As to the scientists, these Wednesdays in Shirvan were devoted to the following natural elements: first - air, second - water, third - ground, forth - plants, because as to the folk, air is heated on first Wednesday, on second - the water, on the third - ground is living up, on forth - trees and greens. The most important Wednesdays among these Wednesdays was the last one - Akhir Charshanba, when the main developments take place. This day is full with the various ceremonial actions, which cover all fields of life of the nation and their main purpose is to provide welfare to yourself, your family and society in the coming new year, release from all the misfortunes and deter from yourself and your family all the troubles and misery.

One of the main traditions among all the traditions implemented while preparing to Novruz holiday is a ceremony of growing wheat seeds - preparation of Semeni, which is considered a symbol of the fertility of the nature and according to the people's words, it had magic power. The ceremony is concerned with the rebirth of the nature and custom of the greenery. On these days bright green "lawns" - semeni decorated with scarlet ribbons and surrounded with the painted eggs and candles are in each house. Khoncha is put near it - tray full with the raisins, nuts, sweets, dried fruits, sugared "nogul" etc. The women are cooking eastern sweets: pakhlava, gogal, keta etc. before Novruz...

All the streets and yards are full of joy these days. Dances, songs, crackers, popguns, music, laugh, "new year" fortune telling and sorcery, visit to the relatives with the holiday sweet gifts always take place.

Azerbaijan is full of rich traditions concerned with the fire, which is also considered the mean of purification. Kindling of the festival bonfires in the streets, roofs of the houses, hills is widely distributed and jumping over the bonfire on last Wednesday before Novruz is obligatory for each persons not depending on gender and age. An accepted tradition is to jump over one bonfire seven times or one time over seven bonfires. Shoots and fireworks are evidence of the holiday - spring equinox. According to the tradition, all folks should be at home on the first day of the holiday, should not go anywhere and should not receive anybody.

Traditional New Yea's celebrations on December 31 in the republic take place under aegis of the World Azerbaijanis Solidarity Day. Nobody forgets Santa Claus. He is called Shakhta-baba.

Another one important traditional holiday is Gurban Bayrami symbolizing sacrifice. Well-to-do Azerbaijanis have to cut sacrifice sheep and distribute its meat among the poor families on the 10th day of 12th month of Muslim lunar calendar.

Upon completion of the thirty-day fast, traditional religious festival - Ramazan Bayrami is celebrated. Preparation to the holiday starts a few days before it. It is necessary to make everything in order. It is used to sew or buy new cloths, gifts and all required for the festival meal.

There are many calendar dates, the main of which are celebrated nowadays. They are May 28 (Independence Day of the Republic), June 15 (National Rescue Day) and November 17 (National Renaissance Day).

 

In Azerbaijan the following holidays and significant dates are marked at present:

 

January 1	New Year
January 20	Memory Day of Victims of the totalitarian regime killed in the result of the aggression of soviet millitary forces
March 8	International Women's Day
March 21-22	Novruz Bayrami
May 9	Victory Day
May 28	Day of Republic
October 9	Day of Armed Forces
October 18	Day of State Independence
November 12	Constitution Day
November 17	Day of National Revival
December 31	Day of Solidarity of the World Azeris