Burn It Up! Embrace The Fire Wednesday
- mhajieva
- Jun 2
- 2 min read
It’s the second Wednesday of Novruz ahead! Tuesday nights are celebrations of Fire in Azerbaijan! Let’s embrace new beginnings by learning how it’s celebrated in the Land of Fire.
What is Novruz?
During the four Wednesdays leading up to Novruz, each Wednesday is associated with a specific element (water, fire, wind, land), and people participate in various traditions and rituals.
Wednesday of Fire (March 4th, 2025)
Fire Wednesday, which falls in the lead-up to Novruz, marks an important day in the Novruz celebrations. It is the second of the four Wednesdays leading up to the end of the year, celebrated on the night of March 21st to 22nd.
This Wednesday symbolizes the nurturing of light and warmth, as fire is seen as a symbol of the sun—representing life, energy, and vitality on Earth. By honoring fire during this time, we celebrate the light that sustains life. The traditions around Fire Wednesday often involve lighting bonfires, jumping over flames, and ensuring that the fire’s energy is kept strong, symbolizing the human spirit and its resilience.
Through these rituals, people remind themselves to continue shining, to keep their inner light bright, and to embrace the warmth and energy that drives life forward. Fire Wednesday encourages the removal of negativity, clearing space for positive energy as the new year approaches.
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Burn It Up! Fire Rituals of Novruz Festival
One of the most famous customs during the Novruz celebrations is related to the fireplace, where people jump over the flames. This act symbolizes the removal of negativity and the purification of the spirit, embracing the energy and renewal that fire brings.
Jumping over fire during Novruz is not only a symbolic ritual but also an adrenaline-filled experience, as it represents both the physical and spiritual leap into a new, purified year.
Another fire-related custom during Novruz is the lighting of candles. Each family member lights a candle, symbolizing their inner fire. TThey make a wish and should make sure the candle is fully consumed, symbolizing the perseverance of their desires and hopes for the year ahead.
Through the Fire
These 4+ weeks of Novruz celebrations are all about welcoming Spring, a season full of energy. They are not just traditions or festivities, but also a powerful reminder of the big changes, endings, and new beginnings that require action.
The Fire Wednesday serves as a second call to take action for the significant changes in our lives—like a reminder to not hesitate, but to go ahead and jump over that fire!
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Sources:
Xəlil, A. (2013). Türk xalqlarının yaz bayramları və Novruz. Folklor İnstitutu.
Advantour. (n.d.). Novruz in Azerbaijan: Traditions and celebrations. Advantour. Retrieved March 3, 2025, from https://www.advantour.com/azerbaijan/traditions/novruz.htm
Azerbaijan.az. (n.d.). Novruz Bayram: The celebration of the new year. Azerbaijan.az. Retrieved March 3, 2025, from https://azerbaijan.az/en/related-information/65
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