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| samani |
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| Zane making shakarbura |
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| zane and khalil |
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| Zane and Levan |
Novrus is a national holiday that takes place in the month of March. It celebrates spring and comes after a long, gray winter. There are festivities the month before devoted to the four elements; fire day, wind day, earth day, water day. Tuesdays are hat Tuesdays when kids put a wool cap at your door, ring the buzzer or knock and run away. You fill the hat with pastries and or sweets. Kids are hiding around corners and behind cars. Every Tuesday kids and sometimes adults jump over bonfires and candles are lit for members of the family and in memory of others. There is a special saying that asks that the heat of the fire cleanses one for the new year. People jump over 7 times and when the fire burns down the ashes are taken away from the home area with their bad chi (the bad luck and hard times of the year before) to welcome in the new year with a clean body and spirit.
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| Zane and Levan |
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| Zane and Omar |
The preparations for Novrus are much like Spring Festival in China. The house is cleaned, debts are paid, things are planted, new clothes are purchased or made. Wheat (Samani) is planted in little dishes and these become the centerpiece of a table of food that greets visiting friends and family. The health of the wheat foretells of the health of your crop for the new year. The table is set with 7 traditional dishes. The table is filled with nuts (walnuts, hazelnuts, pistachios) and shakarbura (pastry with walnuts and honey) pakhlava (baklava). Painted or colored eggs are a part of the holiday table and kids take their hard boiled colored eggs and tap them together to see who is strongest.
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| Aiden showing his dance moves |
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| Zane in town |
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| this is a moth and looks like a little hummingbird |
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| dinner at home |
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| our bonfire |
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| egg decorating |
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| egg decorating for Novrus |
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| our fire jumping |
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| entrance to Yusif's studio |
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| spices |
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| in town with friends |
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| tash and zane |
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| making a pyramid |
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| yard bonfire |
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| balcony down town |
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| samani |
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| our fire jumping |
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| water! |
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| visit to yusif mirza's studio |
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| yusif's studio |
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| fountain square |
There are many holidays throughout this year that I had a hard time understanding why or what was being celebrated. But Novrus permeates the culture is such a hopeful time or new life, remembering, celebrating and sharing that it warms the spirit.
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