Tea...Quince jam...

Recently I had dinner with people who were able to recite love poems...it was a very pleasant experience...as poetry always is...

Since I am still under impression of poetry...please forgive my below kind of poetic description of "hayva mürəbbəsi" i.e. quince jam :) ...I wrote earlier about our tea tradition and that we often have it with "mürəbbə" Azeri kind of jam...These are pictures of quince jam...On a cold winter day quince jam is like a sun that shines on a snow white table cloth...Those who are fond of "mürəbbə" in general appreciate this golden sour-sweet jam with rich flavour. I will share with you a secret...Next time you visit Azerbaijan and go to a restaurant order as many types of jams as the place can offer or you would be able to taste...until then I will keep you posted on different types of jams available...

As we say here "аğzınız şirin olsun" that means "let your mouth be sweet" or "have a sweet mouth" :) as weird as it may sound in English this sounds very proper and natural in Azeri. Please let me know if you can think of a better translation :)

Quince jam...which is not a jam per se...it is "mürəbbə" :)

Quince and quince jam...

Numerous guests and continuous tea sessions are a norm in Azerbaijan

Unknown Azerbaijan...19-20 January, 1990…

USSR era ended for Azerbaijan with last massacre Soviet Army has brought upon it on 19-20 January, 1990…

In short Azerbaijan Republic had declared independence and Soviet Army entered on tanks and with Kalashnikovs in their hands to show power and who was in charge... Although USSR government knew that USSR was collapsing and Republics were going independent, government didn’t want to give away the last chance of showing its deep hatred toward free minds and people I must say in general…

I wouldn’t go further on government and army but just would say that the head of USSR at that time was Mikhail Gorbachev.

I will neither go into details of wildness when tanks were going over armless people and soldiers were shooting to every window they saw light in…

Years of repression and organized crime towards people’s identity and self esteem were finalized with that last massacre that ended lives of 170 people including six women and nine children and teenagers; 370 people were wounded...

Azerbaijanis have short memory for cruelties the nation went through its history...its modern history…this is a forgiving and peaceful nation that pays the price…

I am a woman, mother, spouse and sister and I don’t believe into wars and revenge. To me the most valuable thing on planet Earth is a life of a person, of any person…We had two explosions in Baku tube during last ten years…The country is in ceasefire but now and then coffins of some young guys go back to their homes and ruin lives of their families…I am following the news from places like Gaza, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, civil wars in Africa and it is unfortunate to see what people are doing...Excuse me for this nonsense but I always say that whoever gives ok to war must be “made pregnant”, have really bad pregnancy period, then have hard delivery, bring up the child and then made to send that grown up child to a war to become a victim…maybe this will make those people realize that their ideas and ambitions are not worth any person’s life and any mother’s tear…

20 January is the day Azerbaijanis pay tribute to those who gave their lives for the country's independence...

Photo: At Shahidlar Khiyabani (Martyr's Cemetary), 1990. By Reza

Ay means Moon in Azerbaijani...

The year I was born, 1976, name Ayten (Aytən in Azeri), was very popular in Azerbaijan. Therefore when I went to university there were at least four girls in the same group whose name were Ayten :)

Ay means Moon in Azerbaijani and we have numerous names associated with Moon: Aytekin, Aysel, Aynur etc etc....these names usually mean moon light, someone who "is" half moon, looks like moon etc etc...Women with kind of round face, shaped eyebrows and almond-shaped eyes were considered as "Moon face" if I can say so in the past and considered as ideal beauties in the East...

The reason I wrote the above is that today I am posting a photo of an amazing Moon we are having over Baku tonight...although I am not sure if my picture conveys the beauty...:)

Unknown Azerbaijan...Tea...

If you ask me what tea means in Azerbaijan I will just reply with our proverb which says “Çay nədir, say nədir” which can be translated as “when you drink tea, you don’t count the cups” and means that tea is something almost “sacred” in Azerbaijan…or should I simply say…there is a strong tea culture….

Tea ceremony in Azerbaijan means freshly brewed, strong, bright-colour, hot tea served in crystal or any other glasses or cups (I will do a separate post on traditional glass “armudu stəkan” i.e. “pear shaped glass”). Tea is served continuously when there are guests or when there is an interesting conversation…when we are bored or not bored, happy or sad…Tea with milk or with sugar (sweet tea) is not traditional…Traditional tea is served with lemon, cube sugar, sweets and “mürəbbə”. The word “mürəbbə” doesn’t have a direct translation because if I write jam you would imagine something a bit different. “Mürəbbə” is thinner and you would eat it quite differently to how we eat jam but I will write about this separately in future :)

I always say that with good statistical information I think Azerbaijan would beat all the records in world’s tea consumption per capita but I am afraid there is no this kind of data currently. Another proof: the word “çayxana” means place/café where people drink tea, this culture is as old and strong in Azerbaijan as pubs in Britain…when visitors come to Azerbaijan for the first time and see men sitting in a café, playing backgammon and drinking something they are amazed to see that those men are actually drinking…tea…what visitors do not know is that the place they see is actually “çayxana”. Historically women were not going to public places so “çayxana” used to be a place for men...nowadays young generation thinks that “çayxana” sounds ancient and not very refined and friendly so these cafes are mainly called as “çay evi” i.e. tea house.

Tea is associated with warmth, hospitality and friendliness therefore traditon says that one should not allow the guest leave the house without at least one cup of tea...for the beginning ;)...

Winter...

I must have written earlier on this blog that we Azeris very often find ourselves saying (almost boasting :) that from 11 climate zones we have 9 in Azerbaijan. Thus e.g. if Baku area is mostly dry but has Caspian Sea, we also grow lemons in subtropical Lenkoran and Sheki is very green and has mountains...Purpose of this foreword is to say that winter has different scenarios depending on the region of the country. In Baku it means mostly rain and wind and few days of snow and for Sheki it means snow, snow, snow, frozen, icy roads and pipes, continuously happy and excited children and women with red hands who no matter what weather continue their house chores in a most proper manner. Usually the harsher the winter the better the harvest but unfortunately it continues to be a very difficult season in terms of logistics and conveniences for many households in the country.

Below photo is the courtesy of Tural Salahov who took this photo on his way to Sheki and neighboring regions. Thank you, Tural, for a great photo. Another fascinating creation of Mother Nature, isn’t it?...

Bayramlıq...

Since marriage and family continues to be main pillars of Azerbaijani culture we have numerous traditions connected with engagements, weddings, family life and children…

Traditions connected with pre-wedding times are numerous. The more the family feels attached to traditions more creative they can be :) Ok, I might be a bit exaggerating but with desire and time and financials allowing different ceremonies can be arranged that bring a lot of joy and lots of work to immediate families and entertainment to relatives and guests. One of traditions is called “bayramlıq”, bayram means holiday and the ending “lıq” can be translated as gift for holiday and means the ceremony of bringing gifts to the engaged girl. As long as the couple is engaged and not yet married bayramlıq ceremony can be arranged for all holidays that take place during the period…

According to tradition the family of engaged man brings all kinds of sweets and some gold jewelry to the engaged girl; all presents are brought in “xonça” to be read as khoncha and meaning decorated basket or tray with presents. Colour associated with these ceremonies is usually red. Do not quote me but I assume that this might be connected with the fact that Azeris were Zoroastrians in ancient times and fire and its colour are still strong elements of culture…Girl’s family in return in accordance with tradition of hospitality which is another very important part of culture receives the guests in her house, lays the table and prepares the food and then gives some of sweets back to boy’s family to sweeten their mouth as we say here as well as to all the guests and other relatives who were not participating at the ceremony…:)

There is a famous saying in Russian "Восток дело тонкое" that might be translated as "East is a delicate/fine matter..." thus sophistication and attention to detail is very important to Sheki people if I may say with pride :) and in this context this applies to khonchas and hospitality…
Below are some pictures of khonchas brought as New Year bayramlıq.

One of wishes to newly engaged would be not to let routine to turn their future holidays to commonness and that they continue to make the most of their holidays just like they do it now :)

No bayram without famous Sheki khalva :)

Khonchas...

Another khoncha...

More khonchas...

Museum Center: "Winter harmony"...

It is scary and disappointing to see how much in general people’s leisure times in modern life are filled by TV and shopping…

Thankfully there are also always places to visit, see, experience that enrich our lives…as long as there is a desire…

As history tells Baku had been cosmopolitan and very arty city back in 60s and 70s…after difficult times began…thankfully during past three-five years art life of the city is reviving…all museums and concert halls are being renovated, artists are starting to be appreciated and recognized more…there are more competitions and events and art life is awakening…I am very hopeful that this positive trend will continue...

Museum Center in Baku in addition to personal exhibitions and other events cheers Bakuvians with its seasonal exhibitions every season of the year. Thus winter exhibition called “Winter Harmony” have been a beautiful holiday present…

Unfortunately I can not post pictures of art works due to copyright issues…therefore I am posting only a flyer of the exhibition…