00:00For me, Norvruz 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 shekerbura and pachlava,
00:49and simply celebrating spring with my family.
00:59Norvruz is a very ancient celebration.
01:02It 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
01:25the beautiful scenery in Azerbaijan as it becomes green during the next few months.
01:30It's a time of fresh starts.
01:33It's actually meant for a lot more.
01:36We can celebrate it as a family or as a people, or anyone can celebrate it, especially as a group,
01:44because that'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
01:57setting small fires in the streets and running and jumping over them.
02:01It's a time for families to get together.
02:04Always, whether in Azerbaijan or at my home in England, the family is always together.
02:12I also think of it as a connection to our culture in general.
02:17Especially in times like Norvruz, everyone can participate, even the people that are not from here.
02:23Even tourists, small kids, old people, anyone.
02:31Norvruz, it's my birthday and I celebrate with the family.
02:37I would be called Norvruz if I was born in Azerbaijan, I'm sure.
02:43On stage, everything is intense and very visible.
02:48At home during Norvruz is calm and full of warmth.
02:52It is a completely different kind of energy.
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