Today, the first Wednesday of Novruz holiday – Water Wednesday – is celebrated in Azerbaijan.
February 24 holds special significance among the people as the first Wednesday of the year. The preparation phase for Novruz is considered to have started with Water Wednesday.
According to folk beliefs, the first Wednesday is associated with water. This day is also called "primordial Wednesday" and "flower Wednesday" in some sources. Water Wednesday is regarded as the beginning of nature’s awakening.
The Novruz holiday symbolizes the arrival of spring and is regarded as the beginning of the new year. For this reason, people wish for the year to pass as pure and successful as water. According to tradition, the lighting of the first bonfire precisely on Water Wednesday signifies that winter is behind and the ice has started to melt.
It should be noted that this year Fire Wednesday will be celebrated on March 3, Wind Wednesday on March 10, and lastly – Earth Wednesday on March 17. The spring season will enter Azerbaijan on March 20 at 18:45:53.