This video is about how Novruz is celebrated in Azerbaijan, and it is unfolding of everything as is, prepared by Ramin Hasanov. Subscribe to new updates! Please write your questions or comments below. You may also contact me (Ramin) with any questions or concerns at +994504431470 or via email at: ramingasanov@yahoo.com. You can hear the rhythmic percussion sounds and other instruments sounds indigenous to Azerbaijan, the land of “eternal flames”. We see the flag of blue, red, and green whipping in the wind. We are in Lokbatan, a settlement situated in the southeast of Baku. Lolkbatan is the location of a large and most frequent mud volcano, and a historic oilfield. Most recent eruption of the mud volcano in Lokbatan with spectacular flames of natural gas took place in September 2012. The local people are gathering here, in this place, to observe a celebration preceding Novruz. This is the panorama of the people and event. The kids are running from one place to another with boundless energy. While Emilia is sitting up on the horse's back and enjoying her time off (to the fullest), I will tell you more about Novruz. Novruz is considered one of the largest celebrations of the year. Novruz (literally translated as “new day” in Farsi). The word nov- means “new”; in Latin, it is novus, in Russian, novyj and rūz means "day" in Modern Persian, but the original meaning of the word “ruz”, was "light". Novruz occurs at the spring equinox and is celebrated worldwide as the beginning of the new year by people from diverse ethnic communities and religious backgrounds in lands that once belonged to the Persian Empire. Nowruz is the day of the astronomical Vernal Equinox (or Northward Equinox), where the sun crosses the celestial equator and equalizes day and night, which marks the beginning of the spring in the Northern Hemisphere and usually occurs on March 20th, depending on where it is observed. The person on the horse obviously going to light up the torch-like object in his hand and go towards the place where the bonfire is to be held to set it on fire by hitting it with the torch. Every Tuesday during four weeks before the holiday kids jump over small bonfires. People go into the streets and alleys to make bonfires, and jump over them to cast all their problems into the bonfire. Novruz is a public holiday in Iran, Iraq, Georgia, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan. It is a time when families, friends and neighbors typically visit one another and share traditional meals, different kinds of pastry, cookies, fresh and dried fruits and walnuts. Azerbaijan hosts many public holidays related to Novruz with a duration of 7 days. Usually preparation for Novruz 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, wind and earth. Novruz is a family holiday. People tidy up their homes, plant trees, make new dresses, paint eggs, and make national pastries such as shekerbura, pakhlava, shorgoghal and a great variety of national cuisine. The decoration of the festive table is khoncha, a big silver or copper tray with Samani placed in the centre and candles and dyed eggs by the number of family members around it. On the last Tuesday prior to Novruz, according to old traditions children slip around to their neighbours' homes and apartments, knock at their doors, and leave their hats or little basket on the thresholds all the while hiding nearby waiting for candies, pastries and nuts. Azerbaijan is a land of striking contrasts. Atropatena, the land of “eternal flames”, which lay where many great historic routes met, attracted many conquerors. The people of that amazing land will introduce you to their traditions and customs, to objects created by their craftsmen of the past and the present.

• published: 03 Mar 2016
• views: 29