ANKARA - Nevrouz, the world`s oldest festival, has been celebrated throughout Turkey on March 21st.
Nevrouz has also been celebrated in the Turkic world as "the start of the new year in old Turkish calendar with 12 animals" for five thousand years.
Some accept this day when the night and day are equal while some consider it as the day God created Earth. Nevrouz is also considered the day Prophet Noah stepped on the Earth after the flood. Some accepts it as the day when the first human-being is created, while others describe it as the messenger of spring.
Many societies have been celebrating Nevrouz for centuries in a huge area going from Central Asia to the Balkans.
The Nevrouz is also being celebrated in Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, and Tajikistan as a "national feast".
-SADNESS IS CONSIDERED AS DISGRACE-
During such a special day which is celebrated in atmosphere of great enthusiasm, sadness is considered as the biggest disgrace. Even those who lost their beloved ones, are expected to be joyful.
People clean their houses for Nevrouz which is believed to be the day when everyone`s fate is determined and the day when all diseases, evil, misfortunes, and troubles disappear.
They play various games and cook special meals to mark the Nevrouz. After dining together, people exchange greetings with each other for a happy new year. Then, they visit graves of their beloved ones. Those who offended to each other, are reconciled. People extend a helping hand to the poor, the forlorn, and the elderly. Young people wishing their dreams to come true, jump over a Nevrouz Fire.
According to common belief, March 21st, the beginning of the 12-animal ex-Turkish Calendar, symbolizes refreshment of the nature, and beginning of spring. Snowdrops which bloom in these days, are called as "Nevrouz Flower". Babies who are born in Nevrouz, are given the first name of Nevrouz.
-NEVROUZ IN THE OTTOMAN PERIOD-
Nevrouz which was celebrated by Turkish societies for hundreds of years, shaped various traditions during the Ottoman period.
The gold-dusted sweets called "Nevrouziyye" were cooked in the palace and distributed to the people.
-BELIEFS WHICH REACH TODAY-
Some beliefs which managed to reach today regarding the festival of Nevrouz are as follows:
-The God created the Earth on the day of Nevrouz when the night and the day are equal.
-The mud of Prophet Adam who is considered to have been the father of all human beings, was molded on a Nevrouz day.
-Prophet Adam and Eve first lived in Heaven, but after they ate the forbidden fruit, Prophet Adam was sent to the Serendib Island and Eve to Jeddah. God forgave them who regretted what they did, and brought them together on Ararat on a Nevrouz day.
-Nevrouz, is the day Prophet Noah first stepped on the earth after his ship landed on Mount Ararat.
-Prophet Yousuf who was thrown into a pit by his brothers, was saved by a merchant on a Nevrouz day.
-Prophet Moses saved his followers by dividing the Red Sea into two on a Nevrouz day.
-Prophet Younus who was swallowed by a dolphin, was left to the shore on a Nevrouz day.
-When God created the human beings, all stars in the universe had gathered under the Aries. God then ordered all stars to go to their firmament on a Nevrouz day.