Article about the Novruz holiday published in the Swedish online publication Diplomatic World Sweden
Stockholm, March 21, Narigiz Jafarli, AZERTAC
The article is dedicated to the spring holiday of Novruz, symbolizing the arrival of spring and celebrated during the vernal equinox — March 20-21.
Novruz, which translates to "new day," has an ancient history and dates back to the time of the prophet Zoroaster — approximately 3,500–5,000 years ago.
The article emphasizes that for thousands of years, Novruz has been widely celebrated across various regions of Asia — from ancient Babylon to the Caucasus. Even during the Soviet period, despite official prohibitions, Azerbaijanis preserved their traditions and continued to celebrate the holiday.
The publication provides a detailed description of the preparation process for Novruz: for a month before the holiday, four symbolic Tuesdays, called "chorshenbe," are observed, each dedicated to one of the elements: water, fire, earth, and air. Special attention is given to fire, which plays a central role in the purification rituals.
The article also describes the folk games, cultural events in cities, and the main celebrations in Baku near the Maiden Tower.
The material concludes by mentioning that in 2009, Novruz was included in the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, underscoring its importance for millions of people who celebrate spring, renewal, and unity.
It is worth noting that the publication Diplomatic World Sweden is targeted at diplomats, politicians, and diplomatic staff working in Sweden.
