Axır Cumay...Axır Cümə...or Last Friday of Ramadan...

Last Fridays of Ramadan are called Axır Cumay in Sheki. Cümə means Friday in Azeri but since Sheki has quite a strong dialect many words are told differently, the same is with the name of this day. Axır Cumay means last Friday and on last Fridays of Ramadan people in Sheki remember those who unfortunately are not with them any longer and go to cemeteries. In cemeteries people say their prayers or ask Mollahs to say the prayers for them, quite often do some cleaning of grass etc and simply remember.

Today there was a heavy rain in Sheki, nevertheless people paid respect and respected the tradition...

How can one be wiser and kinder if does not try to remember wisdom of the past and people that made past years special. This is something to be passed to children so that they build upon what has already been achieved and don't have to start over...actually quite a number of things are inherited genetically too...there are so many answers in the past...

Today we had a heavy rain in Baku as well...at the same time sun was shining...and it made me think that rain and sun means...yes rainbow...and guess what I raised my eyes to see rainbow above me...it was amazing...I even wanted to say to people around stop, raise your eyes or you will miss the rainbow...but then thought that they wouldn't understand and didn't...but did take photos...not of great quality but still...A friend of mine took a better photo with better view so I am sharing it as well.

Let there always be people around us who are like rainbow in our lives. Either they are with us or not we will always remember their warmth...

Be well...

rainbow...

rainbow not to miss...

courtesy of Vugar Muradov...

Spring cleaning...

I must confess that I re-read my post written in May 2007 now and smiled to first sentence of it) why not, good idea....

Today I am writing the post devoted to “spring cleaning”. I could basically repeat what I wrote in 2007...as things haven’t changed since then…

I spent Novruz holidays in Sheki this year. Again got impressed how most of women are keen to keep their households immaculately clean and even if everything looks perfect still spring deep cleaning is a must.

Although modern technologies are welcome there are things which kind of just can't get any better )…such as…broom....nothing is simple with brooms either...since there is "tuğ" (which is soft broom works great indoors and with dust) there is "süpürgə" which is harsh broom works great with carpets or better outdoors and there is another type of "süpürgə" with which you can even broom your garden. And I must mention that everything is made from a natural material and this knowledge comes from ancestors…

When I got acquainted with Feng shui and read about keeping ones living environment clean I caught myself thinking that Sheki people (and not only) inherit Feng shui habits with their upbringing…since spring cleaning is just another norm be it in Sheki be it in Feng shui…

Couple of photos...

"brushed" saffron at background...

"broomed" garden in Sheki awaiting spring...
"broomed" garden in Sheki awaiting spring...II

brooms rushing to the market...courtesy of Far Fario...

everyone can find THE broom for her household...I took this photo in 2007! in Sheki bazaar to share it with you only now...)

Novruz_Fire Tuesday...

First of March this year for us here in Azerbaijan was not only to enjoy as first date of approaching spring but also as second Tuesday of Novruz, so called Fire Tuesday. Fire does not leave anyone indifferent on this land of fire - Azerbaijan...

Let me take here a sudden turn and advise that although this post is devoted to second Tuesday of Novruz I am posting a picture...no...not of a fire...

Below picture was taken by photographer Asim Talib in 1982! in Kalbadjar region of Azerbaijan which is currently under occupation... I love this photo very much and was looking for opportunity to share it with you...Who would know, understand and appreciate all traditions if not older men and women that bring them to us - younger generations...The way they dress, behave, expressions they use, stories they tell are precious...Today when remembering this ancient tradition of celebrating Tuesdays of Novruz I think it would be the right time to thank once more and wish good health to all old people...Who if not them understand and cherish the beauty of another spring to come...

My year 2009 post on fire Tuesday can be read here.

Novruz_Water Tuesday

Today Azerbaijan and not only but all who are celebrating Novruz greeted "water" Tuesday. Waters of nature woke up and are ready to welcome spring!

Unfortunately I am not able to write a nice post on this today thus would have to give links to my posts in 2010 and 2009.

Mattresses and quilts...or...yorğan, döşək...

Today I am writing about something what continues to be a tradition for many regions including Sheki in Azerbaijan but less and less popular in capital...I will be talking about mattresses and quilts...maybe this sounds strange in English but for any Azeri equal phrase in Azeri sounds very familiar...i.e. yorğan, döşək...

Historically and traditioanally it used to be and continues to be the case for many that an important part of bride's dowry would be mattresses and quilts that she would take with her to new family...there would be two mattresses for master bed, mattresses as a present for her in-laws, couple of mattresses for potential guests and obviously the same number of quilts and even more number of pillows...I should mention right away that all would be usually prepared from sheep wool (needless to say that it involves a lot of labour to clean and bring wool to condition that would be approved by experienced grannies of the family), goose feathers and involve purchase of appropriate covers (appropriateness depends on many things including taste, image and quality of materials and level of income of course) and then actually making these mattresses, quilts and pillows.

When families have skilled grannies, mothers and aunties everything is prepared in house what gives extra pride and value to this important part of dowry...otherwise making of is outsourced...Since another must of dowry is a big chest then traditionally you would have a chest and then pile of these mattresses, quilts and pillows on it, in Azeri or since I am not really sure about literary Azeri in Sheki dialect this is called yük...Making this pile is also an art I would say because pile that is kind of not simmetric, without matching colours and bent to the left or right is not the pile that sophisticated Sheki women would like to see...this pile is put together with love and care and pillows and mattresses and quilts are used whenever necessary...usually when there are extra guests...Its a particular honour for the guest to be offered a mattress or quilt that newly came with bride's dowry...

In Baku fewer bride's would care to have extra mattress or quilt...everything is mainly bought ready...chests do not match to modern style furnitures...young generation would rarely know how to make these mattresses or quilts anyway so going forward I see this tradition as something else that we would see less and less...

Fortunately we continue to cherish in our family house in Sheki chest left from my granny where we have a neat pile of mattresses and quilts waiting for us...each time when all mattresses and quilts are used up we open the chest with sentimental hope that we would find there something forgotten long ago that would bring memories and sense of our childhood...

bringing wool to required condition requires hard work and patience...usually women get together and wash, dry, make it light and fluffy together...hard work is coupled with talks and tea (of course) and at the end there is super result and great mood of satisfaction...:) making quilt requires skills, ready quilts can become a real piece of art...

this summer in our house in Sheki...we were short of pillows and mom with her sisters made new ones, I asked to pause the process to take a photo for my blog :)...traditionally speaking mother of two should actually take part in this making of pillows process but I can go as far as making tea for those who are heavily involved, interrupt them with taking pictures and entertain them with some chit-chat...love the process! :)

asked my cousin Fatima to send me photos...many older houses in Sheki would have these wardrobes built in to the walls...can be used for many things including extra quilts...
chest, mattresses and quilts...
closer look...

another closer look...

In 2007 I had a post where I put a picture of my older son sitting in my grandma's chest...You can see it here :)...

Qurban Bayrami (Eid al-Adha) in Azerbaijan...

Azerbaijan is celebrating Qurban Bayrami (Eid al-Adha) this week. Most of people will be back to business only on Thursday this week.

Weather is very generous to us this week as well. Sun is shining brightly in many regions of the country. Leaves of the trees and waters of the Caspian shine so brightly.

Many families are spending their days together and enjoying the weather and each other's company.

Today many people also remember to be generous and share. Everyone who can afford slaughters sheep and shares meat with relatives, friends and most importantly with those in need.

We all pray and hope for peace and prosperity and thank for health, beauty, love, each other and for everything actually.

Sending you best wishes and lots of sun shine from Azerbaijan via below pictures, courtesy of good friend and talented photographer Tagi Jafarov.