Visiting Azerbaijan during Nowruz / Novruz: what's different?
Novruz in Azerbaijan (Azerbaijani: Novruz Bayramı) is a traditional holiday, which celebrates the New Year, and the coming of Spring in Azerbaijan Republic and Iranian Azerbaijan.
This year, it's observed the coming week (March 20-24) and I'm currently in neighboring Georgia and thinking about the logistics of making a side trip.
In Azerbaijan, how do businesses' hours of operation change over Nowruz?
Does it depend on whether you're in Baku or a smaller city? I'm particularly interested in:
Locally run coffee shops/tea houses
Small restaurants
Chain stores/restaurants
Museums, public transport
Also, how hard will it be to find a decent room in a guesthouse or small hotel at the last minute? How crowded will trains/buses in and out of the country be?
Best Answer
I was in Sheki and Baku, Azerbaijan, for two days over Nowruz this year.
In both cities, it seemed pretty much every business I saw was open for at least its normal hours, and public transit seemed to be operating as normal.
However, the night train from Sheki to Baku was completely packed; first and second classes had been entirely booked in advance, so there were only places available in third class. Also, there were a lot of tourists, mainly from Iran, around Baku's old town; a local explained it's popular to visit over the holiday, which is also celebrated in Iran.
So, from my limited experience, I'd say you can expect everything to be open, but more crowded than normal, and I'd highly recommend booking space-limited transport like trains (and even some flights) well in advance of when you normally would.
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What is Novruz and how is it celebrated?
Novruz is a family holiday. In the evening before the holiday, the whole family gathers around the holiday table laid with various dishes to make the New Year rich. The holiday goes on for several days and ends with festive public dancing, contests of national sports and other entertainment such as from folk bands.Does Azerbaijan celebrate Nowruz?
This holiday was celebrated in ancient Babylon for 12 days beginning in Nisan (March, April) 21. each of the 12 days had its ceremonies and enjoyment. According to the first inscription, the holiday of Novruz was established in 505 B.C.How long is Novruz in Azerbaijan?
Just like many centuries ago, today, the Azerbaijani people celebrate the last four Tuesdays of the year as \u201cend of year Tuesdays\u201d. 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 spring's arrival.Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
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