00:00For me, Novrus is connected to the beauty of spring and new beginnings.
00:06I remember when I was a child and my mother and my grandmother together,
00:14we always made cookies, pastries, and I always decorated.
00:21It is the most special holiday for me.
00:28We are preparing a lot of food, decorating and setting the traditional table.
00:35Spending time together as a family is the most important part for me.
00:41I feel most connected to the shant of homemade national pastries like shakerbura and pachlava
00:49and simply celebrating spring with my family.
00:59Novrus is a very ancient celebration.
01:03It celebrates the ancient elements of water, fire, land and wind.
01:10It represents the end of the old year and the start of the new year, the new growing season,
01:17when plants start to grow, the land becomes green and it's time to go out and look at the beautiful
01:26scenery in Azerbaijan as it becomes green during the next few months.
01:30It's a time of fresh starts. It's actually meant for a lot more.
01:36We can celebrate as a family or as a people or anyone can celebrate it, especially as a group because
01:44that's how it's meant to be.
01:45During the month leading up to the actual holiday, the fire element is celebrated notably by children setting small fires
01:58in the streets and running and jumping over them.
02:01It's a time for families to get together.
02:05Always, whether in Azerbaijan or in my home in England, the family is always together.
02:12I also think of it as a connection to our culture in general, especially in times like Novrus.
02:19Everyone can participate, even the people that are not from here, even tourists, small kids, old people, anyone.
02:30Novrus is my birthday and I celebrate with the family. I would be called Novrus if I was born in
02:40Azerbaijan, I'm sure.
02:43On stage, everything is intense and very visible. At home during Novrus is calm and full of warmth. It is
02:53completely different kind of energy.
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