By Azernews

By Amina Nazarli

New Year, marking the beginning of new intention, new ideas, and new actions, has come! 

So, it means new beginning in life, new hope and new cheer and also indicates the beginning of new plans and activities.

The festive holiday uniting many peoples of different faiths and races is the most remarkable day for billions of people on the Earth. This is the very holiday gifting majestic and wonderful feelings, joy and happiness. 

With the start of the new year ahead, it’s a perfect time to think about making a new beginning in your life.

Azerbaijan is celebrating the New Year with colorful performances, concerts, contests, and parties that last through the night. 

Baku is full of images of roosters, souveniers and predictions. People are excited with upcoming changes and despite there is no certain forecasts on that 2017 will be perfect, hope and people’s mood are the most important things.

The New Year celebration is a family holiday and most Azerbaijanis spend this day at home, surrounded by their nearest relatives and friends, talking about past and laughing on some funny stories.

The table is served always with traditional national dishes. There is a tradition to unite beyond a delicious lunch and right before the midnight they give a toast to the year.

Traditionally a New Year Tree (like Christmas-tree) is decorated in a house at approach of December 31 which is removed only after the Old New Year passes January 13. A necessary attribute of celebration is Shakhta Babah, a character like Western Santa Klaus.

New Year is a wonderful holiday that reminds everyone about their childhood. We can feel the approach of that day even a month ahead because the whole city is hung with garlands, noisy Santas ask to take a picture with them and decorated Christmas trees are everywhere! 

On the New Year’s Eve even adults are ready to believe in miracles and to come back in their childhood, expecting their dreams to come true.

Azerbaijan meets New Year with fireworks at the Baku Boulevard and start after the Clock Tower chimes midnight.

Every year thousands of people gather in the city center to view how spectacular fireworks paint the cold winter sky over the city with bright colors, immersing visitors in the New Year’s atmosphere.

This year, 2017, is a year of Fire Rooster, symbolizing strength, power, energy, movement, renewal and leadership, which in combination with the temper of the ambitious representative of the sign will fill the year with great prospects and a lot of life-determining moments.