Nauryz Meirami - what kind of holiday is this?

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Nauryz (in Persian - Nowruz, literally translated "new day") is the name of the Iranian New Year, also known as the Persian New Year, which is celebrated around the world by Iranians, along with some other Turkic and Muslim groups. In Kazakhstan, this holiday is called Nauryz Meirami (Nauryz Holiday). The article will tell about its origin and features.

Who celebrates Nauryz

The holiday has Iranian and Zoroastrian roots. Nauryz is celebrated by people from different ethnic communities. It has been celebrated for over 3000 years in Western Asia, Central Asia, the Caucasus, the Black Sea basin and the Balkans. This is a secular holiday, which, in fact, has no religious significance. Nauryz is the day of the spring equinox and marks the beginning of spring, it is a holiday for many ethnic and religious groups.

It is celebrated on the first day of the first month of the Iranian calendar. It usually falls on March 21, the previous or next calendar day, depending on where it is celebrated. The moment the sun crosses the celestial equator,and day and night become equal in duration. Equinox Day is calculated every year, at this time families get together to celebrate it at the festive table.

Nauryz is an ancient holiday. Today, March 22 is equivalent to the day and night balance. In Persian, Nauryz means "New Year" (solar rise).

Official holiday status

As of May 10, 2010, the holiday is celebrated on March 21 in accordance with Resolution 64 of the United Nations General Assembly.

Nauryz has been celebrated as a spring holiday for over 3,000 years by 300 million people in the Balkans, the Caucasus, Central Asia and the Middle East,” the General Assembly said in a statement.

UNESCO included Nauryz on October 25, 2008 in the UN List of World Cultural Heritage.

When Muslim nations celebrate Nauryz

Kazakhstan celebrates Nauryz for three days: from 21 to 23 March (since 2010). In general, Nauryz is celebrated as the beginning of the spring and New Year holidays among the Persian, Caucasian and Turkish peoples. It is celebrated on March 21 in Iran, Central Asia and Azerbaijan as a public holiday, in Tajikistan and Kazakhstan on March 22, and in Uzbekistan and Turkey on March 21.

Nauryz Meirami in Kazakhstan

In traditional Kazakh society, the day of the equinox was considered the beginning of the year. On the night of March 21, according to the mythological concept of the people, the spirit of spring visits the steppes. Nauryz Meirami - what kind of holiday is this? Thisthe national celebration has always been sacred for the Kazakh people. People in smart and beautiful clothes gather together. Women hug and greet each other. "Nauryz kozhe" is being prepared, the main spring dish of Kazakh cuisine, which is made from lamb. It is made from seven ingredients. Lamb and other meat means goodbye to winter, and the addition of milk symbolizes a warm spring. As a rule, on this day people will be cleansed of their sins, their conscience will become easier.

Congratulatory says: “Nauryz meiramy kutty bolsyn! Ak they say bolsyn! (“Congratulations on the holiday of Nauryz! May there be prosperity!”, The person receiving congratulations replies “Birge bolsyn!” (“And the same to you!”)., the holiday of Nauryz begins on March 14 and is called Amal (from the Persian name for the month Hamal). Its classic element is the Korisu ritual, when everyone is obliged to greet each other with a handshake with both hands, and also say “Zhyl kutty bolsyn!” (“Happy year!”).

Historical information

Reliable information about Nauryz can be found in the works of many ancient and medieval authors. According to Eastern calculus, it corresponds to the Iranian Nauryz - the New Year. From generation to generation Kazakhs, Uzbeks, Tajiks passed on the traditions of honoring Nauryz. The inhabitants of Tajikistan called him Gulgardon (Gulnovruz), the Tatars - Nordugan, and the inhabitants of Ancient Greece knew him as Patrich. The origins of the holidayfound in ancient pagan rites.

Symbolism of the holiday

Despite the antiquity, this Eastern New Year has been preserved in the memory of the Kazakh ethnos, and has now acquired an unchanged spiritual and moral significance. It has been believed from time immemorial that on this day the processes of renewal of nature take place - the first thunder of spring thunders, the buds on the trees swell, the greenery and the first flowers bloom with all their might. In ancient times, the Kazakh people called Nauryz Meirami the Day of the Ulus, or the Great Ulus. The Turks believed that the more generously the spring equinox is celebrated, the better the year will pass. Hence - a large number of holiday rituals and paraphernalia.

On the eve of this spring festival, people clean their houses, pay their debts, those who were in a quarrel put up. As the old-timers say, when this spring holiday comes, all ailments and suffering bypass them. According to the ancient belief of the Kazakh people, on the eve of the first day, day and night, the old Khadyr Ata walks the earth. This is an old man with a white beard, who is dressed in white clothes. He gives people happiness and prosperity. The rite of celebration itself from antiquity keeps in itself a love for the natural manifestation of nature.

As Nauryz is celebrated in Kazakhstan

The holiday of Nauryz Meirami has always been accompanied by mass fun. A scenario is specially created for each settlement and large city. Often free food and drink is given away to people who celebrate it en masse. Photos of Nauryz Meirama are presented below.

Young people in Kazakhstan gather at the swing - altibakan. Everyone sings, dances, plays national games. On the holiday, competitions between young men in horse racing are often arranged. Sometimes guys compete in the ability to be in the saddle with young girls. Also, on the day of the vernal equinox, aitys is traditionally arranged, where akyns, the so-called improvisational poets, compete in their talent.

The scenario of Nauryz Meirama in two languages is usually prepared in Kazakh and Russian, since Kazakhstan is a multinational state with a large number of national minorities. As a rule, such holidays are treated with all honor and respect, because Novruz, as it is also called, symbolizes spring renewal, not only of nature, but of man. This is the beginning of a new life, new victories, ascents, feelings. It is important to meet him with dignity, then good luck will accompany him throughout the year.