Araz News: Water Tuesday (Su Chershenbesi) launches the first preparations for spring holiday,This day is celebrated on the first Tuesday.

When The Spring is coming, which means the festive Novruz Holiday won’t keep us waiting. Novruz, loved by all South Azerbaijanis who live in Iran and North Azerbaijan , is celebrated on the day of the vernal equinox and symbolizes a new life.

Novruz is the important celebrations  in  Azerbaijan culture which begin a month before the actual holiday. The four Tuesdays named after these elements and called Su Chershenbesi (Water Tuesday), Od Chershenbesi (Fire Tuesday), Hava Chershenbesi (Wind Tuesday), and Ilakhir Chershenbe or Torpaq Chershenbesi (Earth or Last Tuesday) are being celebrated before the main holiday.

It should be noted that each Tuesday has its own traditions. This year, the first Tuesday, or Water Tuesday, falls on February 23. Water is a symbol of purification and clarification.

Each Tuesday has its own traditions. Folk belief has it that water purifies and stirs, fire, earth and wind awaken the nature, and trees begin to blossom, symbolizing the coming of spring.

Since God created man from water and earth, water symbolizes the beginning of life, and legend has it that water is renewed on this day.

In Azerbaijan culture on this day, young girls used to walk to springs in the mountains to get pure water, and came back with water in their Sahangs, a traditional Azerbaijani jug made of metal with special carvings on it. Girls used to splash water around their houses and on their relatives’ faces. A bowl of water in the Khoncha, a Novruz tray with nuts and sweets, is a required attribute of Water Tuesday.

It should be mentioned that On September 30, 2009, Novruz was included in the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity and from this time March 21 has been declared as the International Day of Novruz.

By-H.A