Scientists have discovered, that to one of the most ancient holidays� Novruz is takes place from 3700 till 5000 years and this holiday in days of prophet Zaratustry has arisen. In what essence of a holiday? Celebrating of Novruz and four Tuesdays previous to a holiday, leans on beliefs about sanctity of two main beginnings - Waters and Fire, generated Air and the Earth.� In all rituals of a holiday the worship and immense gratitude to these four elements is traced. On March, 21, in day of celebrating Novruz, the Sun from constellation of “Fish”, it is familiar which Water is, passes in marked is familiar fire, constellation “Aries”. Whether numerous references to water and fire are connected to it and in four environments, and in day of the holiday (kindling of fires, canddles, washing by spring water, etc.)? Merge of Water and Fire, the importance of this event for ancestors of Azerbaijanians it is obviously visible in worship the hot and mineral sources beating from under the ground and distributed in all territory of Azerbaijan to which made pilgrimage in days of holidays. This event is reflected on an ancient miniature where the mythical essence with fins and a tail fishes (Water) is represented, with a body and a head a lion (Fire). There can be a lawful question: and whence known character Kyosa and his travelling companion a goat which we have got used to see on annual festivals Novruz has appeared? For a year the Sun passes on a sky a way through 12 signs on the Zodiac. On March, 21 (day of a holiday) and on September, 21 - days of a spring and autumn equinox accordingly (day is equal to night), on June, 21 - the longest day in one year, and on December, 21 - the shortest day in one year. Ancestors trusted, that on March, 21 is a day ascents Divine shined the Sun at a throne where it keeps the power and correct the world, (the peak of his{its} board falls on June, 21) down to September, 21.

Since this day, the Sun grows old and, on December, 21 having grown decrepit finally, is rolled from the throne in a gloomy and dark cave. But from a cave the powerful star is rescueed by a goat and, young, but very much still the weak Sun gradually gains in strength, that in Novruz « stand up a throne ». On December, 21 zodiac constellation “the Archer” is replaced “Ram”. The Archer on - arabic “kaus” which has regenerated in the Azerbaijan language in “Kyosa”, and goat - travelling companion of him is an obvious embodiment of constellation “Ram” on the Earth. More detailed descriptions of Novruz celebrating meet in sources, since the first years of a new epoch (about 2000 years ago). Most likely, it is connected by that the palace life of governors was the basic subject of annals of the state and Novruz is described in them as a holiday spent by governors and in their honour.

The matter is that the governor on the ground was perceived by people as the follower as the successor Divine shined the Sun and day of an ascention of the terrestrial governor on a throne usually dated by day when the Sun which has gained strength and power, enters the rights, i.e. on March, 21 - day of Novruz. Traditionally the holiday began that to the governor, облаченному in bright motley clothes (color of daily clothes was red), a white cap “новрузи” the big silver tray about family was brought by white bowls of pair milk, about family new silver coins (them rapped out by this day), several slices of sugar. Besides set forth above, on a tray necessarily were a persimmon, 7 different kinds grain and leguminous (wheat, peas, рожь, etc.) And 7 thin веточек яблони, a quince, a pear and др.. The Master should eat a persimmon, preliminary having dunked her{it} in milk, having treated then these viands of the members of household (it is curious, that on September, 21 - in day of an autumn equinox, on a marked holiday of autumn “Khazan”, on the same tray to the governor were brought the seven flat cakes baked from seven kinds of a flour{torment} and 7 kinds of fruit). This tradition firstly concerning only authorities, then has taken roots in such поверье: if in celebratory morning, not having said a uniform word to eat a piece of sugar all year of you will be not not touched with illnesses.

The ambassador in the sky let out a white falcon whom also raised by this day. Apparently, in all these ceremonies white color is predominating and it not simply the fact, and one more certificate to that our ancestors worshipped white light Divine shined, its cleanliness. In ancient annals ceremony of an ascention on a throne is described and so: in the head of solemn procession went 365 (by quantity of days in one year) young men in red capes, behind them went, запряженная восемью лошадьми a two-wheeled vehicle, the horse with the legs painted by henna� brought up the rear snow-white статный. Later, in days of the great Azerbaijan poet (XII century) Ganjavi, before the pedestal erected in honour of a holiday carried out{spent} specially selected snow-white racers.

� In days of ханств (600 years later), in an episode described in the novel of Azerbaijan writer Chemenzemenli, it is spoken about procession in which chapter{head} on a white horse ” the Karabakh khan in white папахе and white� chukha (cape) sat, and behind it on white horses caracoled beks, also robed in white clothes. All procession went to a place named Djidir Duzu (Kharabakh) where dismountedand continued festival in white tents. In documents VIII - XI centuries of our era ceremonies of ” imperial entertainments », arranged with governors - “khangezdi” are described. In city centre cloths in which center « the orange tree » towered, made of sugar and covered by the candied fruit, ногулом and an alarm (the sweets prepared from sugar) were spread. On edges of a cloth 7 “towers” with every possible sweets were established, regale with which any interested person could. Handicraftsmen and handicraftmen participated in medieval ceremonies in honour of Novruz also; each group carried ahead a banner decorated with metal emblems which specified for their craft. After approach of darkness street гуляния came to the end on waste ground specially allocated for it where showed the skill and skill « fireworkds has put the master ». Bright paints flashed and with noise hundreds figures blew up: signs on the zodiac, mythical monsters, fantastic towers. This day in palaces competitions of poets and the musicians glorifying heavenly Fire, its powerful and invincible force, arrival of long-awaited spring were carried out. At houses of simple inhabitants on a celebratory table necessarily there was a mirror (a symbol of a sunlight), an egg (a symbol of a life), a grain (a symbol of fertility). Besides it on a tray there should be 7 kinds of dried fruits, sweets, a dish with проросшей wheat “сямяни”. The instant of approach of ” New year » (in palaces it was announced by astrologers) was defined or on the leaflet which has trembled in water placed in a plate, or on stood in water red fishes, bought to this day. Candles were lit, the most senior member of family slightly cut with scissors “сямяни”, sentencing: « Samani, support me, the whole year I shall cultivate you », then transferred scissors younger on age which made the same and so, up to the most younger in family. The ambassador all loudly congratulated each other and sat down a celebratory table. As is known, many religions, ideologies aspired to use traditions and customs Novruz to own advantage, seeing them in “mirror”, bringing in them the ideas and rituals. And it is valid, for many centuries of tradition Novruz have changed, having got some new shades. But the main feature and feature of this holiday is not preaching ideas of any religion, and the quivering and careful attitude{relation} to the NATURE which grants and supports a life. And today, on a threshold of the third millenium when so mutual relations of the person and the nature when so questions of ecology and protection of an environment as the ideas of our ancestors which have arisen of many centuries ago are never earlier important are actual are fragile and reached up to now in tradition to celebrate a holiday of the Life - Novruz!