Celebrating the second Tuesday of Novruz with fire and tradition

Today marks the second Tuesday of Novruz—Fire Tuesday (Od Çərşənbəsi).

This special day falls in the heart of the Novruz celebrations, symbolizing purification and the triumph of good over evil through the sacred element of fire. Fire has long been revered in Turkic culture as a symbol of holiness, a belief that has endured through the ages. On this day, fire represents the cleansing of negativity and the triumph of goodness, rooted in ancient worship of the sun and flames. The tradition involves lighting bonfires and jumping over the flames, a symbolic act of burning away all inner impurities and misfortunes.

As with other Novruz Tuesdays, it's essential that pots are boiling and no fire is left unattended. The lighting of fire and bonfires is believed to herald a year of warmth and abundance. Since ancient times, fire has been cherished and protected by people. Even in the Kitabi-Dede Qorqud epic, fire’s sacredness is clear, symbolizing the Sun’s warmth, which animates nature and warms the earth. There’s a belief that the more people honor the Sun and fire, the faster nature will warm, bringing happiness and prosperity.

Looking ahead, Wind Tuesday (Yel Çərşənbəsi) will be celebrated on March 11, and Earth Tuesday (Torpaq Çərşənbəsi) will follow on March 18.

Additionally, spring will officially arrive on March 20 at 13:01:25 Baku time, when day and night are balanced, the Sun rises exactly in the east and sets in the west. This marks the moment when the Sun moves from the Southern Hemisphere to the Northern Hemisphere, bringing spring to the north and autumn to the south. The spring season will last for 92 days, 17 hours, 40 minutes, and 46 seconds.