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Azerbaijan celebrates Last Tuesday of Novruz Holiday

18 March 2025 00:00 (UTC +04:00)

Today, Azerbaijan is celebrating the Earth or Last Tuesday (Ilakhir Charshanba), one of the four festive Tuesdays before Novruz Holiday, APA reports.

Before Novruz, four Charshanbas symbolizing abundance are celebrated: Su Charshanbasi (Water Tuesday), Od Charshanbasi (Fire Tuesday), Hava Charshanbasi (Wind Tuesday), and Torpag Charshanbasi (Earth or Last Tuesday). Earth Charshanba is associated with the mythical awakening of the land, symbolizing rebirth and revival.

On this day, festive tables are set, bonfires are lit, Azerbaijani Plov (Pilaf) is cooked, and sprouted wheat (Samani) and decorated trays (Khoncha) are prepared. Ilakhir Charshanba is rich in traditions such as listening at doors, lighting candles, exchanging holiday greetings, and fortune-telling. It is also believed that candles should not be extinguished halfway, and families light one candle per member. Additionally, on this day, fire, matches, oil, dairy products, flour, or bread should not be given away from the house.

Notably, this year, the Spring Equinox will occur in Azerbaijan on March 20 at 13:01, and Novruz will be celebrated on March 20-21.