TITLE: THE PEOPLE, LANGUANGE AND TRADITIONS OF AZERBAIJAN

Cultural diversity and integration are essential factor in society and play an important

role in nations life. Multicultural traditions will represent unique societies with a

different cultural beliefs and live together in one state. Azerbaijan one of the

multicultural state and located on the border of European and Asian continents, the

coast of Caspian Sea. In ancient times, Azerbajistan becomes part of the route of

The Silk Route which is connecting West and East by linking traders, merchants,

pilgrims, monk, soldier and etc from China and India to the Mediteranean Sea. In

result of this interactions, Azerbaijan becomes the centre of the cultural diversity with

a different cultural background.

The Azerbaijani peoples have some feature with special characteristics. Regarding to

Albertos article, there are some elements that we must take to establish their

identity. Firstly, the Shiism is the religion of the majority and this is a result of their

Persian heritage. From the begining Azerbaijani people were very involved with the

Persian culture and followed the Zoroastrianism as a religion because of their

Persian influence. From the 15th to the 20th century, Persians coexisted with

Armenian Kurds and Azerbaijanis and this strongly believed that they belonged to the

Persian Empier. Another important element in the Persianization of Azerbaijan was

the rise of Pahlavi dynasty meant the identification of Iran as an ethnically Persian

State. Second, the Azerbaijani language belongs to the Turkish family based on the

Turkish influence. The begining of Turkish influence are in the massive migration

coming from Anatolia during the 10th and the 11th. For a long period, Turkish and
Azerbaijan live together and both of Turkish and Persian languanges were used.

During the 14th and 15th centuries, Qara Qoyunlu and the aq Qoyunlu dynasties

decided to establish their capital in the Tabriz. Until 19th century, Tabriz become the

most important Azerbaijani cultural centre and one of the Azerbaijani cross-boundary

community. Besides that, Turkish culture gained influence in the Azrbaijani area and

the Pan-Turkism showed the strongest Turkish element. This movement tried to

balanced relationship between the state and Islam. Nowadays, this is still one of the

most important elements in the Azerbaijani identity. Third, the Russian-style

education and lastly, Azerbaijani with their own history. The Russian style education

means that the Northern area of Azerbaijan established its capital in Baku and still

remained under the Russian influence. The inhabitants in this area received a

modern Russian education. The Azerbaijan with their own identity means that purely

Azerbaijani elements in the formation of their collective identity. After some years of

Arab dominance, a protest movement unleashed against the occupation of

Azerbaijan. From this point onwards, Babak was considered a national hero in Babak

Revolt (816-817). Another main elements in the rise of the Azerbaijani identity was

the conflict with Armenia for the control of the Nagorno-Karabakh enclave. After

several years of fighthing, this Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is the main source of unity

for the Azerbaijani identity.

For the language, Azerbaijani or Azeri also referred to as Azeri Turkish or Azeri

Turkic is a language spoken primary by the Azerbaijanis. Who are concentrated

mainly in Transcaucasia and Iranian Azerbaijan. The language has official status

in Azerbaijan and Dagestan (a federal subject of Russia) but it does not have official

status in Iranian Azerbaijan, where the majority of Azerbaijanis live. This language
was legal language of empire and played important role in the life of Azerbaijan

cultural. Students learned Arabic and Farsi languages, Arabic grammar, logic, kalam,

fiqh, mathematics, calligraphy, history and literature. Until the eleven century, the

Arabic language turned into main vehicle of scientific, religious and literary creativity

like lack of the common language and the alphabet created favourable condition.

Modern Azerbaijani Language as one of the Turkish languages has a specific

grammatical and phonetic properties. Due to the existence of the law of harmony in

this language, front vowels (i,,e,,) and back vowels (I, u, a, o), differing by the

place of formation cannot be used within the same word. (except for words like iq,

ildrm beginning with vowel i): at the same time the front vowels cannot be used with

velar consonants (k,q,,x), while back vowels can nor follow dorsal consonants (g, k).

is also spoken to lesser varying degrees in Azerbaijani communities

of Georgia and Turkey and by diaspora communities, primarily in Europe and North

America. The Turks who make up the ethnic foundation of the Azerbaijani people

appeared in the territory of the present Azerbaijan long before our century and in the

early first millennium along with other numerous tribes were the ancient residents of

these lands.

Languages of Azerbaijan also divided into north and south Azerbaijan. North

Azerbaijani which is spoken in the Republic of Azerbaijan and Russia, based on

the Shirvani dialect and South Azerbaijani which is spoken in Iran, based on

the Tabrizi dialect, and is closely related to Turkish, Qashqai, Turkmen and Crimean

Tatar, sharing varying degrees of mutual intelligibility with each of those languages. It

related to the modern Turkey today (Istanbul Turkish) the official language of Turkey.

The Shirvan dialect is the basis of standard Azerbaijani. Since 1992, it has been
officially written with a Latin script in Azerbaijan, but the older Cyrillic script was still

widely used in the late 1990s. Ethnologue listed 21 North Azerbaijani dialects

including Quba, Derbend, Baku, Shamakhi, Salyan, Lenkaran, Qazakh, Airym,

Borcala, Terekeme, Qyzylbash, Nukha, Zaqatala (Mugaly), Qabala, Yerevan,

Nakhchivan, Ordubad, Ganja, Shusha (Karabakh), Karapapak.

Meanwhile, in South Azerbaijan or Iranian Turkic is widely spoken in Iranian

Azerbaijan and, to a lesser extent, in neighbouring regions of Iraq and Turkey, with

smaller communities in Syria. The CIA World Fact book reported in 2010 the

percentage of South Azerbaijani speakers at around 16 percent of the Iranian

population, or approximately 13 million people worldwide, and ethnic Turks is the

second largest ethnic group in Iran, thus making the language also the second most

spoken language in the nation. Dialects of South Azerbaijani including Aynallu (Inallu,

Inanlu), Qarapapaq, Tabrizi, Qashqai, Afshari (Afsar, Afshar), Shahsavani

(Shahseven), Muqaddam, Baharlu (Kamesh), Nafar, Qaragzl, Pishaqchi, Bayatlu,

Qajar.

Azerbaijan is a country holding its centuries-old national traditions sacred. Traditions

accompany Azerbaijanis from the moment of their birth such as wooing, birth of

children, feasts, harvesting and many others. Besides, many traditions of Azerbaijan

are incarnated in hospitality, culture, folk beliefs, national clothes, national festivals

and entertainments. Azerbaijan traditions reflect the elements and cults of various

religions which have existed on its territory. The Azerbaijani people have several

holidays connected with agriculture and stock-rearing, which have been celebrated
since time immemorial. The main celebration is Novruz, which marks the coming of a

new astronomical year and the reawakening of nature, has always been the

Azerbaijani peoples most cherished holiday. Novruz holiday in Azerbaijan is a feast

of spring, start of New Year. Novruz celebrations are one of the most interesting

events in this country. About 300 million people worldwide celebrate Nowruz, with

traditions and rituals particularly strong in the Balkans, the Black Sea and Caspian

Sea regions, the Caucasus, Central and South Asia, and the Middle East. Events

may include folk dance performances, special concerts, and tree planting

ceremonies.

Traditionally, Azerbaijanis start festivities 4 Wednesdays before 21st of March,

symbolizing end of the Old year and beginning of the New year. Its including the Su

Chershenbe (Water Wednesday), Odlu Chershenbe (Fire Wednesday), Torpag

Chershenbe (Earth Wednesday) and Akhyr Chershenbe (Last Wednesday).

According to the tradition, peoples begin to prepare for this holiday from the last

month of winter, continue the holiday celebrations with the arrival of the equinox and

carry on celebrating into the New Solar Year. Azerbaijanis love Novruz for its

democratic philosophy. It is not just a holiday to mark the vernal equinox, it is a

holiday of the equality of the people. It brings together different sections of the

population, strengthens mutual esteem, understanding and social cohesion.

National costumes of Azerbaijanis are very beautiful and original. Female dresses

are graceful in silhouette and cut, emphasizing supple waists of Azerbaijani beauties.
They are decorated with intricate embroidery trimmed with beautiful "gold" bands. For

men the costume should not be too tight to constrain swift movements. Women's

wear was made basically of silk and velvet, the man's - from cloth and home-made

cashmere fabric. A remarkable element of Azerbaijani clothes is underwear. Both

female and male it was made of linen and cotton fabrics. Rich beauties could afford

silk ones. The style reflected the marital status and age of the owner. A young girl's

wear noticeably different from a married womans. Young women dressed the most

brightly and elegantly. Typical men's clothes consisted of an upper shirt, arkhaluk,

chukha and wide trousers. The history of dancing art of Azerbaijan traces its roots

back to ancient times. The first dances were ceremonial and hunting ones.

There are many types of traditional dances in Azerbaijan. The dances "samani",

"khydir ilyas", "kosa-kosa", "godu-godu" and others have been known from time

immemorial. The "Samani" ritual is dedicated to arrival of spring and revival of

nature. It was accompanied by canticles, games and dances. "Khyndir Ilyas" was

intended to summon rain. The word "Khydir" is an embodiment of water. This ritual

was observed in early spring. Besides that, "Kosa - Kosa" is dedicated to coming of

spring. The meaning of ritual game is the struggle of two forces - fierce winter and

young spring. Another ritual is called "Godu" - it was intended for good harvest. It is a

cult ceremony of summoning the sun. These ritual dances have laid the foundation

for various national dances which are subdivided into labour ("shepherds"),

ceremonial (ritual, wedding), common, military, sport, round, game and others.

Female and male dances greatly differ from each other. The development of female

dancer has been conditioned by a costume: a long skirt defined the smoothness of

legs movement, the entire focus of the dancer is on elaborate movements of hands,
arms, shoulders, head, facial expression etc. Meanwhile, male dancer is determined

by legs movement techniques. The dancer can easily stand on toes, promptly

kneel and so on.

For the weeding ceremonies in Azerbaijan, there is a various stage for the women

and men before become husband and wife. The wedding is consists of several

levels: elchilik (match-making), nishan (engagement), qiz toyu (wedding organized by

the girl's family), khinnayakhdi (decorating hands with henna by girls and women),

oghlan toyu (wedding organized by the boy's family) and elgordu (meeting the bride

after several days of the wedding). For the first step is preliminary notification. The

relatives of the groom send one of their lot to the girl's house. His mission is to tell

about the groom's intention of wooing. It often happens that the girl's relatives do not

give their consent. In that case the most respected representative groom's family

member is sent to obtain the girl's parents' consent.

After that, the prior wooding will be taken. Under the custom the first to come to the

girl's house are two women - the groom's mother and one of his close relatives. As

soon as the women come to agreement, it is time for the meeting of both families'

heads. The groom's father comes to the bride's house with three respected people.

With all their behaviour they try to communicate their intentions. The father will ask

his daughter about the proposal. After the girl agree with the proposal then the proper

wooding will be held. On day of the big wooing the matchmakers come to the bride's

house. They are invited to sit on the best seats at the table. The girl's relatives are

present too, but the bride and her mother are not - on this day the bride has to stay
away. The father of the groom will asks for the girl's family answer. "Let Allah bless

them". Everyone sitting at the table say "Amen". Then the new relatives congratulate

each other. After the wooing within a month the relatives of the groom should come

to the girl's house for engagement ceremony.

On the engagement day, day 25-30 people gather together including the bride's

friends and her peers. They all sit down around the bride. Then the relatives of the

groom come bringing a ring, a kerchief and sweets. The sister of the groom, his

brother, sister-in-law or the father put a ring on the bride's finger, cover her shoulders

with the kerchief; then they treat the bride with one half of the sweets and the other

half to the groom. Then the feast begins. As soon as the groom's family has left then

it is time for the henna-party. The bride takes turns putting her right hand on a head

of each of her unmarried friends, letting them to try on her ring. They say that the girl

who is the first to try the ring will be the next one to get married. Then the bride's

friends leave carrying away the sweets.

For the summary, in my opinion Azerbaijan is one of the multicultural country.

Azerbaijan also wealthiest country with multi-racial ethnic living together, full of

traditions, languages and so on. Its also a harmony country with

multi-racial peoples living together and still practicing their own customs and belief.

The representative of ethnic groups considers themselves as Azerbaijanis but each

group has retained distinctive elements of their different culture. In addition,

Azerbaijan also have a unique tradition such as Nowruz festival, weeding ceremonies

and so on that shows it should become one of popular destination for the tourist.
Sources:

Ismail bey Zardabli. 2014. The History of Azerbaijan from Ancient Times to The
Present Day. Rossendale Books

Alberto Priego Moreno. 2005. The Creation of the Azerbaijani Identity and Its
Influence On Foreign Policy. Unisci Discussion Papers.

Hamira Zamani-Farahani. 2013. Cultural Heritage Events and Tourism: A Case of

NowRuz. International Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Administration. Vol 38. 249-
254.

Zeynab Aliyeva Mahammadali. 2014. The sources of multiculturalism in Azerbaijan.

WALIA journal 30(S1): 299-303.

Vahid Rashidvash. 2012. The Iranian and Azari languages. Research on Humanities
and Social Sciences. Vol.2, No.5.

Aynura Sadiqqizi Safarova. 2014. Wedding Ceremonies in Azerbaijan (On The Basis
of Materials Collected from Salyan and Neftchala Regions). International Journal of
Asian History Culture and Tradition Vol.1, No.1, pp.1-6.

Islamic and Ethnic Identities in Azerbaijan: Emerging Trends and Tensions. A

Discussion Paper. Hema Kotecha. Development Researcher Anthropologist

Administrative Department of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan PREI

DENTIALLIBRAY. Culture of Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan. Information Digest.2007, Baku,
2007, P. 122-124

Internet:

http://www.advantour.com/azerbaijan/traditions.htm