Navruz, which means "new day" in Tajik, is one of the national holidays of Tajikistan and is recognized as an official day off. The holiday is associated with the agricultural calendar and marks the onset of spring and the beginning of the new year. Navruz is celebrated from March 21st to 24th, and during these days people hold festive celebrations, visit relatives and friends, prepare traditional dishes, and decorate their homes. An important tradition is the setting of seven items, starting with the letter "s" (sabze, sir, samanu, send, somon, siparguskh, samarad) on the table, symbolizing prosperity and good luck.
In Iran, the spring equinox holiday is also called Navruz and is one of the oldest and most significant holidays in the country. Navruz starts on March 21st and lasts for 13 days. During this period, people decorate their homes, prepare traditional dishes, and drink a special beverage made from dried fruits called sherbet. An important tradition is the preparation of haoma, a sweet dessert made from wheat and water, symbolizing prosperity and health.
In Kyrgyzstan, the spring equinox holiday is called Nooruz and is also associated with the beginning of the new year and spring. Nooruz is celebrated from March 21st to 23rd, and during these days people prepare traditional dishes, decorate their homes, and hold folk festivals. An important tradition is playing the tambur, the national instrument of Kyrgyzstan, as well as reading prayers and songs in honor of the holiday.
In Turkey, the spring equinox holiday is called Nevruz and is celebrated on March 21st. This holiday has ancient roots and is associated with the agricultural calendar. On this day, people gather in the streets, hold folk festivals, dance, and sing songs. An important tradition is the preparation of a traditional dish called pilaf, which is cooked in large copper cauldrons and served at a communal table.
In India, the festival of spring equinox is called Holi and is one of the most colorful and vibrant festivals in the country. Holi is celebrated in February-March, depending on the lunar calendar, and symbolizes the victory of good over evil and the beginning of spring. On this day, people participate in community festivities, where they paint each other with bright colors, dance, and sing songs. Burning a symbolic bonfire is an important tradition that signifies purification and the start of a new cycle of life. Cooking traditional dishes, including Gulab Jamun and Thandai Pani, is also an essential part of the Holi celebration.
In Japan, the spring equinox is celebrated in early April and is called Shunbun-no-hi. This festival symbolizes the beginning of spring and a new cycle of life. In Japan, it is customary to hold ancestor-worship ceremonies and visit shrines during this time. People also prepare traditional food, such as rice cakes filled with sweet bean paste.
In China, the spring equinox is celebrated at the end of January or beginning of February and is called Chun Jie. This festival is one of the most significant in the year and symbolizes the start of the new year and spring. On this day, people participate in community festivities, celebrate with family and friends, prepare traditional foods, and decorate their homes with red ribbons and lanterns. The exchange of gifts between friends and family is also an important tradition.
Overall, the celebration of the spring equinox has its own traditions and peculiarities in different countries and cultures, but they all symbolize the beginning of a new cycle of life and spring, prosperity, and good luck, bringing people together in community festivities and celebrations. The spring equinox is celebrated around the world, taking into account local traditions and customs, but its symbolic significance - the beginning of a new cycle of nature and the victory of good over evil - remains unchanged.
