Novruz holiday is one of the oldest holidays that has found its place in the cultures of various peoples for millennia. Symbolizing the arrival of spring, the awakening of nature, and the renewal of life, this holiday is widely celebrated in Azerbaijan, as well as in the Islamic world, the Iranian geography, Central Asian countries, and among several Eastern peoples. Precisely because of its widespread distribution in this vast geography, various opinions and claims have historically been voiced regarding which people Novruz belongs to. Some researchers link its roots to the ancient Turkic worldview, while others claim that the holiday was formed during the Zoroastrian period and is associated with Persian culture.
However, Novruz holiday is not just a day celebrating the arrival of spring, but also a great cultural heritage distinguished by a rich system of customs and traditions formed over centuries. Numerous ceremonies, games, and beliefs reflecting the people's worldview, lifestyle, and relationship with nature have formed around this holiday. But over time, due to changes in lifestyle, wars, and migration processes, some of these traditions are no longer practiced as before, while others are gradually beginning to be forgotten.
It is interesting, which Novruz customs and traditions have been forgotten from the past to the present?
Speaking to Modern.az on the topic, Doctor of Philosophy in Philology, folklorist Shakir Albaliyev stated that the question of which people Novruz holiday belongs to has historically been discussed among various peoples. According to him, this is actually quite a controversial topic, and various viewpoints exist.
"There is also a side to these disputes that, in a certain sense, justifies them. Because Novruz is such a great and ancient cultural phenomenon that it is celebrated today throughout the entire Eastern world, the Turkic world, and the Islamic world. It is precisely for this reason that various opinions are voiced regarding Novruz. Nowadays, Novruz is celebrated as a common holiday for almost all Eastern peoples, the Turkic world, and the Islamic world".
Sh. Albaliyev also stated that there are many different claims regarding which people Novruz holiday actually belongs to:
"The Azerbaijani people and Turkic peoples in general consider Novruz their cultural heritage. On the other hand, some Persian researchers associate its roots with Zoroastrianism, stating that it belongs to Persian culture. In Iran, Novruz is also celebrated with great solemnity, and long-term public holidays are granted at the state level. Similarly, this holiday is celebrated in other Turkic peoples and countries belonging to the Islamic world".
The folklorist also added that the roots of Novruz go back to the periods when humanity began to comprehend the world:
"That is, one can assume that such a holiday was formed from the period when humans began to understand nature, the renewal of life, and the change of seasons. In this sense, Novruz is not just a holiday, but also a philosophy of life, a system of worldview. It expresses humanity's relationship with nature and the idea of life's renewal.
The American scholar Samuel Kramer has a famous saying: “History begins in Sumer.” Sumerians are one of the oldest civilizations that made great contributions to world culture. Some researchers suggest that Sumerians are of Proto-Turkic origin. In this regard, there is also an opinion that ancient Turkic thought and worldview played an important role in the formation of Novruz as one of humanity's oldest cultural traditions.
Turkic intellect and Turkic worldview have historically been able to form and transmit colossal cultural phenomena to the world. In this regard, a great cultural phenomenon like Novruz has also been assimilated by various peoples over time, and each people has lived it in accordance with their own worldview. It is precisely for this reason that various claims are voiced about Novruz today, and different peoples present it as a part of their culture".
Our interlocutor also clarified the issue of the existence of forgotten customs and traditions related to Novruz:
"Generally, holidays are such significant cultural events that their history spans centuries, sometimes even millennia. Throughout history, due to changes in socio-economic structures and the renewal of lifestyles, some customs are forgotten over time, while others acquire new meanings and form. This is, in fact, a natural process of historical development.
Nevertheless, the customs and traditions formed by the people over centuries do not disappear suddenly. They are passed down from generation to generation, undergoing certain changes, sometimes transforming. These changes are often imperceptible, and people tend to think that the holiday is celebrated as before. However, when researchers delve deeper into these matters, they observe that some customs have been forgotten or changed over time.
Such instances are also observed during the Novruz holiday. However, this is not about the holiday itself being forgotten. On the contrary, Novruz is one of the most important cultural attributes that preserves the spiritual existence of the people and sustains their identity. It is simply that in certain periods, some ceremonies of the holiday could not be celebrated as widely as before".
According to the interviewee, socio-political events experienced by our country, especially in the last century, for over thirty years, have influenced this process:
"The deportation from Western Azerbaijan and the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people as refugees and internally displaced persons due to the Karabakh conflict have severely impacted the lives of the people. This situation has also hindered the performance of some Novruz holiday customs as before.
Because Novruz is primarily a folk festival celebrated outdoors, in spacious areas. Traditions such as lighting bonfires on mountaintops, holding holiday ceremonies in plains, and celebrating from night till dawn require a suitable environment and conditions. However, people living as internally displaced persons could not continue these customs as before. In urban environments, it is also not always possible to maintain the widespread holiday enthusiasm seen in villages and settlements. In this regard, the possibilities for celebrating the holiday were somewhat limited, and some customs gradually faded into the background".
Sh. Albaliyev also recalled that in ancient times, seven Tuesdays were celebrated on the eve of Novruz:
"Three of them were considered “false Tuesdays,” and four were the main last Tuesdays. These false Tuesdays have almost been forgotten over time. However, in the Karabakh region, especially in Jabrayil where I lived, one of these false Tuesdays was celebrated until 1993. As a result of the occupation and forced displacement, this tradition also gradually disappeared", - he concluded.
