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Azerbaijan traditions and customs. Unusual traditions of Azerbaijan Azerbaijani customs and traditions

Azerbaijani customs and traditions have come a long way before they formed into the species that are familiar to us now. Many centuries were needed for their formation, and many events, both positive and negative, became the cause of their occurrence. Azerbaijani traditions also reflect various religious worldviews of people, the peculiarity of their mentality, and the influence of other cultures. In the 20th century, the centralized (Soviet) government of the republic tried to eradicate many of the traditions, but no one will ever be able to destroy what is part of a person in a person. That is why many ancient traditions are still alive today.

After tea drinking, second courses, greens and fresh vegetables are served, and then - sweets or dovga. It is not customary to take food with the left hand. Rice is taken with a pinch, some dishes are also considered not shameful to take with your hand or a piece of bread. In urban settings, a meal is usually held according to European standards, with the presence of cutlery and individual portions. In rural areas, especially when it comes to some kind of community holiday, the rules of behavior at the table are more free and informal.

One of the main features of Azerbaijani cuisine, like any oriental one, is the unique aroma and spicy taste of dishes. A variety of spices give such an amazing effect to Azerbaijani food. Particular attention should be paid to saffron and sumac (powdered barberry). The first has become an integral component of numerous pilafs. And sumac is served with meat dishes. By the way, another distinctive feature of Azerbaijani cuisine is the use of lamb. Dolma is prepared from it, which is very similar to cabbage rolls.

Dishes such as kyufta bozbash (broth with meatballs, potatoes and peas), dovga (sour milk soup) and, of course, kebab are widely known. Various regions of Azerbaijan also boast special ways of cooking. For example, in the north-west of the country, the Khingal dish is popular, which is very similar to dumplings. Its filling is made from meat, kurut (dried cottage cheese) and fried onions. Lenkoraniya is famous for chickens stuffed with nuts, marmalade and onions. Confectionery products can be divided into two groups: cookies (shaker-luku, unlanan, kurabye) and pies with nut filling, which are famous as baklava. The most common national drink is sherbet. It is made with lemon, saffron, sugar, basil and mint seeds, and various fruits.

Do not be surprised if the first dish served to the table is tea. For Azerbaijanis, tea drinking has long turned into a cultural and aesthetic heritage, which has its own methods and rules. After tea is over, main courses, fresh vegetables and herbs are served, and at the end - dovga or sweets. Many dishes need to be eaten with the help of hands, for example, it is customary to take rice with a pinch. Azerbaijani lunch can last about three hours. However, in urban settings, the meal is often held according to European standards familiar to foreigners.

Teahouse

Another tradition associated with the tea ceremony. Unlike the standard Central Asian teahouse, where you can drink tea and have a hearty lunch, the Azerbaijani teahouse serves only tea. Only sweets and sweets can be offered to him, but not food. In the modern understanding of a foreign person, a teahouse can be safely called a club, and exclusively for men. Here they discuss news, business, make plans, remember the past, and most importantly, maintain relationships. In a sense, this is an institution designed to maintain stability in society. Neighbors who quarreled during the day meet in the tea house in the evening. And here, in the circle of neighbors, friends, over a glass of tea, they can calmly discuss their problems and find a mutually beneficial way out of the current situation.

Holidays

Of the holidays that are celebrated by Azerbaijanis, Kurban Bayram (holiday of sacrifice), orujluk (holiday of fasting) are widely celebrated. Novruz Bayram is celebrated most widely. This ancient folk holiday of the new year and spring. It is celebrated on March 21 - the day of the spring equinox. They have been preparing for it since the end of winter: they repair apartments, sew new clothes, but most importantly, they grow wheat on plates, then boil it in a special way. In the evening on the day of the holiday, a table is laid with rich dishes so that the year is rich and fertile. Small bonfires are kindled in the yards, over which older children jump under the supervision of older children. Novruz celebration is one of the interesting folk traditions of Azerbaijan. Novruz is a holiday of spring, the beginning of a new year. Before the celebration of Novruz, Azerbaijanis celebrate a number of previous days, which are holidays on the occasion of the end of the Old and the onset of the New Year. We are talking about four pre-holiday Wednesdays: Su Chershenbe (Wednesday on the water), Odlu Chershenbe (Wednesday on the fire), Torpag Chershenbe (Wednesday on the ground) and Akhir Chershenbe (the last Wednesday). According to popular beliefs, on the first Wednesday, water was renewed, stagnant waters began to move. In the second - fire, in the third - earth. On the fourth Wednesday, the wind opened the buds of the trees, and according to folk signs, spring came.

clothing

As for the traditions in clothing, the national costumes of Azerbaijanis are very beautiful and original. Women's dresses have an elegant silhouette and cut, emphasizing the flexible countries of Azerbaijani beauties. They are decorated with intricate embroidery and trimmed with beautiful "golden" braid. Men's clothing is also very distinctive. She emphasizes their masculinity, does not constrain their rapid movements. Women's clothes were sewn mainly from silk and velvet, and men's clothes from cloth and homemade cashmere fabric. A notable element of the Azerbaijani costume is the underwear. She (both women's and men's) was sewn from canvas and cotton fabric. The rich beauties are made of silk. Women's clothing was distinguished by the brightness of colors. A short, fitted caftan with a pleated hem was worn over the shirt, and in winter, an additional quilted sleeveless jacket was worn. The woman's hair was put in a narrow straight cover, and a low hat with a scarf was put on her head. Leaving the yard, especially in the city, a shawl or a special long cape - a veil - was thrown over the scarf. Shoes for men were leather poles, soft boots and shoes with upturned toes. Women wore their own knitted socks at home, sometimes with hemmed leather soles, and when leaving the house they put on mules with a small heel and sharp, turned-up toes. In conditions of sharp social inequality, large differences were observed in the clothes of different social groups of the population. Wealthy men wore clothes made of expensive materials - fine cloth, silk; The Circassian coat was decorated with breast pockets, which in the past served as bandoliers, gazyrs, and girded with a thin leather belt trimmed with inlaid silver jewelry. Rich women also sewed clothes from expensive fabrics - silk, brocade, velvet; they wore a wide leather or velvet belt with t fancy silver buckles and hanging coins. Their costume was complemented by numerous jewelry - bracelets, monisto, bells, rings. At present, both men and women wear clothes of the pan-European type. Separate elements of the national costume (papakhas for men, and for women - wide skirts, shawls, scarves) can be found only in rural areas, mainly among older people.

Wedding

The richest national rituals and ceremonies were and remain wedding ceremonies. They start with an announcement...

The groom's relatives send a close relative to the girl's house. He must say about the intention to come to the matchmaking. It happens that in the house the girls do not give consent to this. In this case, the most respected of the groom's family tries to get the consent of the girl's parents.

Tea in the Azerbaijani tradition is an indispensable attribute of matchmaking. It is not customary for the people of this country to speak directly: they say, marry your daughter to our son. The fact that matchmakers will come to the house is reported in advance, and without much publicity. In the course of the matchmaking itself, the conversation is carried on only in hints and half-hints. And the answer is also given ambiguously, and a non-Azerbaijani would not understand such an answer. In general, it is given through tea: if sugar is put in the tea offered to the matchmakers, then you need to prepare for the wedding. If sugar was served separately from tea, then this means a refusal.

Particularly interesting wedding traditions Azerbaijan . There are many different pre-wedding customs in this country. One of the very first is Khabar gendarma or matchmaking notification. If the girl's family does not agree to matchmaking, the boy's relatives ask for help from respected people to help them get consent. There is also a custom of small matchmaking, according to which the bride is wooed by the young man's mother and another close relative.

Azerbaijanis have Small and Big betrothal. There is no groom at the first betrothal, but the boyfriend's relatives give the bride an engagement ring, a scarf and sweets. A few months later comes the main engagement. For this betrothal, the girl is presented with many gifts, with the exception of shoes. The most interesting traditional gift is the “shah”. It is a wedding decoration made of a tree branch, on which candles, a mirror, brocade, fruits and sweets are attached. The bride's dowry is brought to the groom's house a few days before the wedding.

Religious legalization of marriage takes place before the wedding. The ceremony is performed by Molla (representative of the Muslim mosque), who is thanked with money and a lump of sugar. In this ceremony, only the closest relatives are present. The actual wedding (“Toi”) can last up to three days. All guests say kind words to the newlyweds and dance. To the left and right of the groom are his closest friends (young). The mother of the groom must prepare gifts for them. The main thing is that the bride and groom dance a lot.

Name choice

The choice of names for newborns can also be distinguished as a custom. The choice of a name is usually associated with certain difficulties. Representatives of the dominant people are more free when choosing a name for a child. The choice may be on a name that rhymes with the name of the previous child, without much attention to the meaning, the name of the former representative of the genus, or simply at the discretion of the parent or other relative.

The family and family life are the bearers of the rich traditional culture of the ethnic group. The family life of Azerbaijanis was distinguished by a large number of patriarchal relations. The man - the head of the family - was the sovereign manager of movable and immovable property, excluding his wife's dowry. Children were brought up in strict obedience to their father and older men. The wife was in unquestioning submission to her husband, as well as mother-in-law and other older women in her husband's house. In creating a family, giving birth and raising children, living and emotional communication, organizing leisure and recreation, housekeeping, caring for elderly parents and many other aspects of family life, various elements of the traditional way of life appear and function.

Dancing

The national dances of Azerbaijan, as well as real street performances, are called an integral component of the culture of this country. Dancers dressed in national costumes circled passers-by and gathered crowds of curious onlookers around them. One of the most popular is the “kosa-kossa” ritual - dances about the arrival of spring. Young people gathered in small groups and arranged cheerful improvisations right on the street, receiving various sweets as a reward from grateful spectators. The difference between men's and women's dances is striking. Azerbaijani dancers reproduce the dance, to a greater extent, with the upper part of the body: head, arms, body. Girls bewitch the audience with smooth movements of the hands, the curve of the waist, a mischievous smile and head turns.

A modest, but mysterious and proud country with the beautiful name of Azerbaijan is neatly located on the Caspian Sea. Not lagging behind the progressive society, the Azerbaijani people, building gigantic complexes in the capital and other densely populated cities, developing office projects, modernizing oil rigs, continue to respect the spiritual richness of the heritage of their descendants. In Azerbaijan, both old and young strictly observe national traditions. Here, every person from infancy is immersed in a unique atmosphere of originality.

Childbearing traditions

To prevent the birth of a sick child, pregnant Azerbaijani women try to be always friendly and courteous. It is especially useful, according to ancient customs, to linger on beautiful flowers, water or sky. After the birth of the baby, they immediately bathed in salt water so that the child would be honest and courageous. But at the first bath, the mother should not be with the child. When the first teeth appeared in the baby, a special ceremony was held, in which a dish of 7 types of grain was prepared. P After the child was 1 year old, they began to cut his nails and cut his hair. It is customary to keep the first cut hair and nails.

The listed traditions of Azerbaijan are far from a complete list of the amazing traditions of this country. By visiting it, you will be able to feel for yourself all the diversity of the people living in this territory. In any case, acquaintance with the ancient traditions of Azerbaijanis will be not only informative, but also useful, and sometimes instructive.

The traditions of the Azerbaijani wedding are still observed with great care. It does not matter that modern views on the marriage ceremony are different. But how unusual it is to observe the rituals that must be observed so that the future family life of the young is quiet and happy.

The large scope of the wedding feast is impressive. We can say that they begin to celebrate the union even at the stage of matchmaking. All this grandiose event requires significant expenses, so they begin to postpone the wedding of children in advance.

All pre-wedding chores are divided into several stages:

Search and selection of the bride by the groom.
Matchmaking, which takes place in two stages.
Engagement ceremony.
Pre-wedding preparation with a mass of rituals.
Wedding celebration.
Post-wedding rituals.

Each item requires a serious approach and a preliminary study of information about future relatives.

The groom chooses the bride, he shows the girl he likes to his parents, and only after their approval begins the search for a matchmaker who will represent his interests in the bride's family.

Girls in this country do not communicate with guys, constantly being exclusively in the company of women. Therefore, often there is practically no time left to get to know the groom.

The decision always remains with the girl's father, he, as the head of the family, determines whether the groom is suitable for his daughter. An important role here is played by the position of the guy himself and his family, both financial and social.

Choosing a future wife

Any guy first of all evaluates the appearance of a girl. And his parents make inquiries about her and her family. And if the girl chosen by their son is not satisfied with something, then they immediately talk about this young man. Of course, the guy will always listen to the opinion of his relatives, because they will not advise bad.

If the chosen one is approved by the parents, the groom asks one of his relatives to find out as much information about her as possible. The named matchmaker makes inquiries not only to the bride herself, but also to her family. Particular attention is drawn to the financial situation of the girl, it is judged on whether the groom will be able to satisfy the demands of the future wife.

It turns out the qualities of the girl:

How does she behave in public, is she modest.
How economic is it?
Culinary excellence is assessed.
Health status.
Education.

The most interesting thing is that the age of the intended bride does not matter. According to the customs of the Azerbaijani wedding, a girl can be married off from the age of 14. After settling the initial stages, one of the relatives is sent to the girl's house. If consent is received, then proceed to matchmaking.

Matchmaking

The wedding ceremony of the bride takes place in two stages.

Initial small matchmaking.
Big wedding.

Traditionally, the mother comes to the bride for a small matchmaking, accompanied by three more women, it can be the eldest daughter, sister. Who, if not a mother, will be able to determine whether a girl is suitable for her son, and whether she will take care of him as well.

In some cases, the groom's father comes and talks with the bride's parents, gets acquainted and remotely hints at a possible marriage. Thus preparing the ground for the future delegation of matchmakers.

The big matchmaking is already celebrated more splendidly. The groom's father, accompanied by his relatives or respected elders, comes to negotiate. He already speaks directly about the desire of his son to marry a girl. Traditionally, it is customary to refuse for the first time, referring to the fact that the father wants to know the opinion of his daughter.

The silence of the girl means consent to marriage. The women who have arrived from the groom's side go to the bride, while the men discuss everything among themselves. The opinion of the girl is asked, and having received a positive answer, you can proceed to setting the date of the official matchmaking.

The event takes place in the bride's house very magnificently, but the hero of the occasion is traditionally absent. It is with a friend, the girl’s mother is at the event, but she is silent, thereby showing her sadness in connection with the future departure of her daughter from her father’s house.

After the blessing of the father, the sister of the bride hurries to tell the good news. The bride herself returns home only after the departure of the matchmakers. It is considered a good omen if a girl cries all evening.

rite of engagement

The engagement ceremony also goes in two stages:

Small engagement.
Big engagement.

The groom himself and his friends come to the small betrothal. The bride is in the company of two, three dozen friends. The official representative of the groom puts the ring on the girl's finger, he also covers the girl's head with a scarf.

Then he must eat half of any sweets served by the bride, and give the other half to the groom.

As soon as the ceremony is over, the bachelorette party begins, the girl's friends shower her with congratulations and parting words, sitting at the sweet festive table. A small engagement takes place within a month after the matchmaking.

A couple of months later, a big engagement takes place. This great event requires careful preparation, and not only relatives, but also friends and neighbors are invited to it. Relatives of the groom can also provide the necessary products for the table. Only a bow is not sent, being considered a bad omen, symbolizing bitterness in family life.

Various necessary things are presented as gifts to the bride:

Clothing;
Decorations;
Money;
Tableware;
Other utensils.

It is customary to give gifts on silver trays, if they are small. When large gifts are given, they are put into chests and tied with a red ribbon.

Only shoes are not presented from relatives, which are later presented by the mother-in-law personally.

Basic wedding preparations

After the betrothal, both families gather to discuss all the necessary components of the future ceremony:

List of guests.
Menu on the table.
Music, etc.

It usually takes several months from engagement to wedding, because everything needs to be carefully planned and prepared. Also during this period, a number of other ceremonies are held, at which the bridegroom's relatives present the girl with unusual gifts:

Hand-sewn and embellished dresses.
Red handkerchief;
Decorations;
A ram with henna-dyed horns.
Henna paint, for applying pre-wedding patterns, on hands and feet.

The bride's dowry and belongings are also transported to the groom's house before the wedding. Then the bride's girlfriends come to the groom's house to restore order and decorate the house. The mother-in-law of the girl presents them for their labors.

Another unusual rite is the choice of the bride's mentor "brocade bichini", a few days before the wedding.

wedding ceremonies

The wedding begins at the bride's house and lasts all day. Traditional Azerbaijani songs are played for the wedding. But only relatives of the groom can dance with the bride. All other guests must pay before they start eating by putting money in the cauldron. By evening, the groom's relatives leave the bride's house, and the feast continues without their participation.

Seeing off the bride is also a very beautiful ceremony. The girl sits in a locked room, waiting for the groom's guests to be able to receive the cherished key by giving a gift. Then the parents tie the girl's waist with a red ribbon, blessing her for family life, and put on a headscarf.

Congratulations on an Azerbaijani wedding can also be in the form of a beautiful toast with a deep meaning, a performance of a traditional song or dance. Azerbaijani dances at weddings are incredibly beautiful. Traditional songs are played at the festival, so every Azerbaijani from childhood knows how to dance to them. A special program is being compiled, in which there are both songs and dances.

Traditional customs after marriage

Even after the end of the wedding festivities, traditions provide for post-wedding rites.

A visit to the house of the daughter of all relatives, led by the girl's mother, a few months later.
At the end of forty days after the wedding, the girl is allowed to visit her parents' house.
Visiting relatives on both sides of the newlyweds.

The whole event takes a lot of time and is carefully planned, because such an event happens once in a lifetime and should be remembered by everyone.

Arriving in Azerbaijan, you will find yourself in a country where the hot sun reigns, you can see magnificent buildings (be it architectural monuments or modern houses). And, no doubt, you will be conquered by the temperament of the Azerbaijanis, who are part of the family of the Caucasian peoples and are rightfully proud of their history and culture. Without them, it is impossible to imagine either the Caucasian flavor or the post-Soviet space itself.

Origin and history of the people

What they don’t tell about Azerbaijanis! Sometimes you can even hear the opinion that this people cannot be considered Caucasian, because they have something in common with the peoples of Asia. However, these are idle speculations. They are the indigenous people of the Caucasus, like other ethnic groups inhabiting this region.

Historians have come to the conclusion that the origin of the people is associated with people from Caucasian Albania, a large state located in the eastern part of the Caucasus in the II-I centuries BC. Then the population of this country began to mix with the Huns, Cimmerians and other nomadic tribes.

Persia also had a significant impact on the formation of the ethnic nation of Azerbaijanis. In the first centuries of our era, the Sassanid dynasty ruled in Persia, which expanded its influence to the eastern regions of Transcaucasia.

We should not forget about the later influence of the Seljuk Turks, who came to these lands in the 11th century. As a result, the local population was first exposed to the influence of Persian culture, and then to the process of Turkization. Thus, the Azerbaijani people have a rich history and it is closely connected with the history of neighboring states.

Turkic tribes constantly migrated throughout the region of Asia Minor, starting from the early Middle Ages and ending with the XV-XVI centuries. All this could not but affect the local population, which only later began to realize their ethnic identity. Some researchers believe that modern Azerbaijanis are the descendants of a particular tribe with Turkic roots.

Such a hypothesis is broken by other evidence, including cultural heritage, as well as written sources. Therefore, today we can say that the appearance of Azerbaijanis was influenced by a variety of tribes - Arab, Turkic, Iranian.

And at the same time, they still remain the indigenous ethnic group of Transcaucasia, since their history has precisely Caucasian roots. This is proved by the numerous traditions and diverse customs of the Azerbaijanis, which find their origins both in Iranian and in the general Caucasian culture.

In the XVIII century, the powerful Persian dynasty of the Safavids ended its existence, resulting in the formation of a number of khanates with a semi-independent status. These small Transcaucasian principalities were headed by representatives of Azerbaijani local dynasties. However, they could not form into a single state, since they were still under the strong influence of the Persians.

And later, already in the 19th century, Russian-Persian military conflicts began, which led to the fact that they were delimited according to their regions of residence. This border ran along the Araks River, as a result of which the northern parts of Azerbaijan fell under the influence of Russia, and the southern parts went to the Persians. And if earlier the Azerbaijani elites had a strong influence on the processes taking place in Persia, then after such a division, this influence disappeared.

Historians admit that their statehood was formed only after the October Revolution took place in Russia and national republics began to be created. The Soviet government gave modern Azerbaijan borders and state-legal base.

When the USSR collapsed, all Soviet republics gained independence, including Azerbaijan. The date of independence is 18 October.

Language and religious denomination

The Azerbaijani language is of Turkic origin, and its formation, moreover, was influenced by the Arabic and Persian languages. However, their language also has other phonetic connections - linguists find similarities in it with the Kumyk and even Uzbek languages.

Currently, about 99% of the country's inhabitants speak Azerbaijani. Since the same language is spoken in the north of Iran and Iraq, this brings ethnic groups together and allows the accumulation of cultural ties.

As for their literary language, it was fully formed only after these territories were annexed to Russia. However, even before the Russian period of history, the literary language of Azerbaijanis gradually developed in Shirvan and the southern regions of Azerbaijan.

As for religion, most of them are Muslims. Almost 90% of those who profess Islam in Azerbaijan are Shiites, but those who consider themselves Sunnis also live here. This is another manifestation of Persian influence.

The modern faith of Azerbaijanis can be very different, since there is complete tolerance towards religion in the country.

Here you can meet both Christians and followers of any other religions. A person living on the territory of this country has the right to choose which religious trend to follow, and no one has the right to influence his beliefs.

Culture and traditions of the Azerbaijani people

Such a colorful people as the Azerbaijanis cannot but have their own culture - and it is rooted in history. Not only their folk traditions, but also many crafts can be attributed to the cultural heritage - carpet weaving, art processing of stone and bone have long been developed here, and gold products created by folk goldsmiths were widely known.

Speaking about the culture of Azerbaijanis, one cannot help but recall such traditions as holidays and folk ritual events. First of all, these are wedding customs. In many ways, a traditional wedding is similar to those wedding ceremonies practiced by other Caucasian ethnic groups. Here, not only ordinary, but also preliminary matchmaking is common, during which the parties enter into an initial agreement on a future union.

In many ways, the wedding of the Azerbaijanis resembles the classical ritual Islamic rules. Here the bride's face is covered with a scarf or a thin veil, and the wedding feast is arranged both in the groom's house and in the bride's house.

Other holidays among Azerbaijanis are always no less bright. Here you can not do without national costumes, as well as without songs and incendiary dances.

Folklore Azerbaijani music is always the use of ethnic musical instruments. And modern motifs in many ways still resemble folk traditions, so the songs of Azerbaijanis are distinguished by a special tonality and are largely stylized as the works of ashugs.

The national flavor is always traced in the dance art. If we consider the folk dance of the Azerbaijanis, then we cannot fail to note its peculiar rhythm. They can be either frankly rhythmic or smooth.

It is on strict observance of the rhythm that the whole pattern of the dance, its structure, is built. Those dances that have roots in ancient traditions often bear the names of plants or animals characteristic of Azerbaijan. There are many videos in which they incendiary perform their dances.

Speaking about the national costumes of Azerbaijanis, it is necessary to mention their correlation with the cultural and geographical location of the region itself. Men wear an arkhalyg caftan, and under it they put on an undershirt. A man's costume also includes outerwear for cold weather - after all, in the foothills of the Caucasus in winter, only a burka or a fur coat made of dressed mutton skins can save.

If you look at the photos of Azerbaijanis, you can see that they often wear a Circassian coat with gazyrs.
Women's costume is no less bright and original. These are the top and bottom dresses, as well as the obligatory veil. A mandatory component of women's clothing has always been a belt or sash - such belts could be richly decorated with gold and embroidery, which could tell a lot about the status of a woman.

Another custom regarding the appearance of women is the traditional dyeing of hair and nails with henna. Henna dyeing is also a legacy of Persian cultural influences.

Wedding

Highlights

All pre-wedding chores are divided into several stages:

Search and selection of the bride by the groom.
Matchmaking, which takes place in two stages.
Engagement ceremony.
Pre-wedding preparation with a mass of rituals.
Wedding celebration.
Post-wedding rituals.

Each item requires a serious approach and a preliminary study of information about future relatives.

The groom chooses the bride, he shows the girl he likes to his parents, and only after their approval begins the search for a matchmaker who will represent his interests in the bride's family.

Girls in this country do not communicate with guys, constantly being exclusively in the company of women. Therefore, often there is practically no time left to get to know the groom.

Choosing a future wife

It turns out the qualities of the girl:

How does she behave in public, is she modest.
How economic is it?
Culinary excellence is assessed.
Health status.
Education.

Matchmaking

The wedding ceremony of the bride takes place in two stages.

Initial small matchmaking.
Big wedding.

rite of engagement

The engagement ceremony also goes in two stages:

Small engagement.
Big engagement.

Then he must eat half of any sweets served by the bride, and give the other half to the groom.

Various necessary things are presented as gifts to the bride:

It is customary to give gifts on silver trays, if they are small. When large gifts are given, they are put into chests and tied with a red ribbon.

Only shoes are not presented from relatives, which are later presented by the mother-in-law personally.

Basic wedding preparations

After the betrothal, both families gather to discuss all the necessary components of the future ceremony:

List of guests.
Menu on the table.
Music, etc.

Hand-sewn and embellished dresses.
Red handkerchief;
Decorations;
A ram with henna-dyed horns.
Henna paint, for applying pre-wedding patterns, on hands and feet.

Another unusual rite is the choice of the bride's mentor "brocade bichini", a few days before the wedding.

wedding ceremonies

Traditional customs after marriage

Even after the end of the wedding festivities, traditions provide for post-wedding rites.

A visit to the house of the daughter of all relatives, led by the girl's mother, a few months later.
At the end of forty days after the wedding, the girl is allowed to visit her parents' house.
Visiting relatives on both sides of the newlyweds.

The whole event takes a lot of time and is carefully planned, because such an event happens once in a lifetime and should be remembered by everyone.

For quite a long time, the country has been fighting for its peaceful existence, and for the preservation of its territorial integrity. Numerous monuments, Azerbaijan culture clear confirmation of this.

The republic gained absolute independence only 20 years ago. Prior to this, the country was constantly under someone else's yoke. By geographic location, Azerbaijan is located right at the junction of the borders of Europe and Asia. The Ottoman Empire had a great influence on the development of culture, many architectural monuments are somehow connected with Islam and the Middle East.

Religion of Azerbaijan

The republic is a multinational state, there are several large religious communities here at once. Of course, the most important, of course, is Islam (of the Shiite trend), then come Christianity and Judaism. Geography of Azerbaijan largely influenced its modern national composition.

Economy of Azerbaijan

The influence of the republic on the international market has grown significantly. Economy of Azerbaijan is rapidly gaining momentum. One of the most important factors is the expansion and development of the gas and oil production, chemical, mining, machine-building and food industries.

Science of Azerbaijan

Now there are about 150 scientific educational institutions in the country. Science of Azerbaijan owes much to the Ottoman Empire, precisely with the advent of Islam. culture and the enlightenment of the country received a good impetus in its development.

Art of Azerbaijan

The cultural and spiritual development of the republic took place over many millennia. . Art of Azerbaijan, like its nature, is rich, holistic and very diverse. In the city of Baku, there are several large state galleries and museums, which clearly have something to see. For example, the world-famous Carpet Museum has a large collection of unique carpets, some of which are over a hundred years old. In 2014, the museum moved to a modern building, which in its architectural structure resembles a large folded carpet.

Azerbaijani cuisine

The peoples of the Caucasus have long been famous for their warm hospitality, the Azerbaijanis are no exception. Rich and varied proof of this. Its assortment includes many meat (beef, lamb), fish (sturgeon, stellate sturgeon) and vegetable dishes. The most famous of them are: hamrashi, ovdukh, firni, jiz-byz, dolma and much more.

Customs and traditions of Azerbaijan

Several large national diasporas live on the territory of the country: Russians, Armenians, Kurds, Georgians, etc. The joint long-term history closely connected them with each other, thanks to which the culture of the republic is so unique and diverse. Customs and traditions of Azerbaijan is also part of the culture.

One of the favorite holidays of Azerbaijanis is Navruz, an annual spring holiday that symbolizes the beginning of a new year. According to tradition, on the first day of the holiday, the whole family gathers together, at one friendly table, it is believed that if you do not meet the beginning of the year with your family, then a person will spend the next seven years in painful wanderings.

Sports of Azerbaijan

Today, the most popular sports in the republic are: wrestling, boxing, karate, football. Sports of Azerbaijan has been rapidly gaining momentum lately. One of the favorite sports in the country is football, over the past 10 years, Azerbaijan has introduced a dozen bright names to the football world: Nazim Suleymanov, Alekper Mammadov, Kazbek Tuaev and others.

Child-loving Azerbaijanis do not just value family ties. The institution of marriage is sacred to them, and traditions from time immemorial have encouraged fertility.

At first, the wife is almost a disenfranchised member of the family. But the more time passes after the marriage, the more respect and care is given to the woman.

For example, before the first time after the wedding, the young woman was generally forbidden to show herself in front of her father-in-law. Only two weeks later, the Azerbaijanis performed the ceremony yuzyachihdy- exit of a young woman into a family. The mother-in-law prepared a luxurious dinner and invited all the household members to it. A special place at the table was given to the daughter-in-law, who was brought to the table by her father-in-law. During the ceremony, the woman received a valuable gift from her husband's father. He also declared the young most expensive member of the family. But up to this point, the girl has come a long way.

Long road to wedding

Nowadays, young Azerbaijanis are increasingly entering into marriages for love, and not for collusion between families. But parental consent is still a prerequisite for marriage. The "messenger" is one of the groom's relatives, who informs the girl's family that she has been proposed. In Azerbaijani this procedure is called sez kasdi.

Next comes the turn of the look - gyz gormeh and approval of the choice - gyz beyenme. These wedding ceremonies are organized by the groom's closest relatives. They also collect information about the family with which they will intermarry, and about the girl herself.

The next stage is small and large matchmaking. During a small courtship, the groom's mother comes to visit the bride's family with her sister or eldest daughter. Azerbaijanis believe that only the future mother-in-law is able to feel what is happening in the heart of the bride, to truly understand what a girl is like. Then men from the groom's side meet with the bride's relatives: the father with his brother. During these visits, the girl's father asks her opinion about marriage, and modest silence signifies agreement.

The final decision about the wedding is made during the big matchmaking, when the matchmakers from the bride's side make a return visit to the groom's house to convey consent to the marriage. Tradition instructs them to take some time to think, but this is already a pure formality: the very fact of the visit indicates that the proposal has been accepted. The second arrival of the matchmakers turns into a grand feast. The mother of the girl comes to visit the relatives of the groom, who cannot appear in the house of the future son-in-law on the first visit of a big matchmaking. Finally, towards the end of the evening, when asked whether the bride’s relatives agree or disagree with the marriage, her father answers with the phrase “May Allah bless them!”.

In one form or another, the formal traditions associated with these rites are observed to this day. In the old days, after the matchmaking was paid cape(ransom) to the parents of the bride.

The betrothal that followed the matchmaking is also divided into small and large. After a small betrothal, during which one of the groom's messengers puts a wedding ring on the bride's finger, a bachelorette party is held. And in the process of a big betrothal, the guests give the girl a variety of gifts that will be useful in family life.

Finally, a few days before the wedding, Azerbaijanis conduct a ceremony of decorating the house - ev byazemek during which the bride's dowry is transported to the house of the future husband.

To the sounds of zurna

The first day of the wedding is for women. From the very morning, the zurna, a national instrument, sounds in the bride's house. By noon, guests begin to gather, who are met by friends and girlfriends of the young. On this day, according to tradition, only the groom's relatives have the right to dance with the bride. Guests bring gifts to young people, more often cash. But the second day of the wedding moves to the groom's house. Before leaving her father's house, the bride receives a blessing from her parents. In the meantime, in the groom's house, a ram is slaughtered, with a drop of blood on the foreheads of the young people marked on the threshold. At the same moment, the groom and his relatives shower the girl with rice, sugar, sweets and small coins, thereby attracting wealth and prosperity to the family.

A wedding feast with dancing to national music takes place in the courtyard of the house until the morning.

Main wealth

The sooner the firstborn is born in the family, the better. The expectation of the imminent appearance of a child after the wedding is even told in Azerbaijani fairy tales and dastans (poetic works of the national folk epic - note ed.). A popular plot is a wedding lasting forty days and nights, after which, after nine months, nine days and nine hours, a daring pahlavan (hero) boy is born, or a daughter with a face similar to the sun or moon. Traditionally, Azerbaijanis valued male children more, which is reflected in the wedding saying-wishes, sentenced while sewing a dress for the bride: "May you have seven sons and one daughter." And at the entrance to the husband's house, the young wife was always given to hold the little boy.

An important family holiday is the rite of naming a newborn. In some areas, this ritual was performed seven days after the birth of the child, in others ten days later, however, its essence was the same. Numerous relatives and fellow villagers were invited to the house to a table richly laden with dishes, in front of whom a scene was played out: on the right side, an azan (Islamic call to prayer) was read in the child’s ear, and iqama (the sunnah of obligatory daily prayers) was read in the left side. The child was then given a name chosen from the Koran. The names of prophets, famous imams and caliphs are very popular.

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