Public holidays in Azerbaijan

Holiday in Azeri village, 1930s. Work by Azim Azimzade

Holidays in Azerbaijan were regulated in the Constitution of Azerbaijan SSR for the first time on 19 May 1921 by the Azeri leader Nariman Narimanov.[1] Through the history non-working days have changed.

Holidays

Non-working days

Public holidays in Azerbaijan include the following:

Date English name Local name Remarks
January 1–2 New Year's Day Yeni il 2 days
January 20 Martyrs' Day Qara Yanvar Commemorates Black January (1990) when Soviet troops entered Baku and killed more than 130 civilians. Also victims of the Nagorno-Karabakh War (1988) are remembered.[2]
March 8 International Women's DayQadınlar günü1 day
March 20–24Spring FestivalNovruz5 days (beginning in 2011)
May 9Victory DayFaşizm üzərində qələbə günüIn honor of victory of the USSR over Nazi Germany during World War II.
May 28Republic DayRespublika günüFounding of the Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan (1918).
June 15National Salvation DayAzərbaycan xalqının Milli Qurtuluş günüParliament invited Heydar Aliyev to Baku to lead the country (1993).
June 26Azerbaijan Armed Forces DayAzərbaycan Respublikasının Silahlı Qüvvələri günü
October 18Independence DayAzərbaycanın müstəqillik günüIndependence from the Soviet Union
November 9 Flag DayDövlət Bayrağı GünüCommemorates the adoption of the Flag of Azerbaijan on November 9, 1918,[3] which was officially established on November 9, 2009, as the State Flag Day.[4]
December 31 International Solidarity Day of AzerbaijanisDünya azərbaycanlıların həmrəyliyi günüInspired by the fall of the Berlin Wall, the nationalist Popular Front of Azerbaijan called for and lead the removal of borders between Soviet Azerbaijan and Iran on December 31, 1989. This has since been celebrated by Azeris around the world as the International Solidarity Day of Azerbaijanis.[5]
Changes due to the Islamic lunar calendar Ramazan Bayramı Ramazan Bayramı 2 days
Changes due to the Islamic lunar calendar Gurban Bayramı Qurban Bayramı 2 days

Other observances

National days in Azerbaijan that are working days follows:

  • January 30 – Day of Azerbaijani customs
  • February 2 – Day of Youth in Azerbaijan[6]
  • February 11 – Day of Revenue Service
  • February 26 – Day of Remembrance for Victims of Khojaly massacre
  • March 5 – Day of Physical Culture and Sport
  • March 28 – Day of National Security
  • March 31 – Day of Genocide of Azerbaijanis (March Days)
  • March 23 – Day of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources
  • April 10 – Day of the builder
  • May 10 – Flower Festival
  • June 2 – Day of Civil Aviation
  • June 5 – Day of Reclamation
  • June 18 Human Rights Day
  • June 20 – Day of the gas sector
  • July 2 – Day of Azerbaijani police
  • July 9 – Day of the employees of the diplomatic service
  • July 22 – National Press Day in Azerbaijan
  • August 1 – Day of Azerbaijani language and alphabet.
  • August 2 – National Day of Azerbaijani cinema
  • September 15 – Day of Knowledge
  • September 18 – Day of National Music
  • September 20 – Day of Azerbaijani Oil / Oil Workers' Day[7]
  • October 1 – Day of prosecutors in Azerbaijan [8]
  • October 13 – Day of Azerbaijani Railway
  • November 8 – Day of Baku Metro Employees
  • November 12 – Constitution Day
  • November 22 – Day of Justice of Azerbaijan
  • December 6 – Day of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technologies of Azerbaijan
  • December 16 – Day of Azerbaijani Ministry of Emergency Situations

Religious days

Only the holidays of Ramadan and Qurban remain as non-working religious days in Azerbaijan as the country is highly secular and irreligious.[9][10] The religious population of the country, mainly in Nardaran and a number of other villages and regions celebrate the Day of Ashura, a Shia mourning day in the Islamic calendar. Religious minorities of the country – mainly Orthodox Christians and Jews - also celebrate notable religious days of their faith.[11] Despite the fact that the holiday Novruz takes its roots from the religion of Zoroastranism, almost all Azerbaijanis celebrates it as a holiday of spring.

References

  1. ↑ Constitution of Republic of Azerbaijan
  2. ↑ Esslemont, Tom (20 January 2010). "BBC News – Azerbaijan remembers Martyrs' Day". BBC Online. Retrieved 20 January 2012.
  3. ↑ "Azerbaijan marks National Flag Day". Today.az. November 9, 2012. Retrieved November 14, 2012.
  4. ↑ "Azerbaijan sets National Flag Day". Today.az. Retrieved 2010-05-22.
  5. ↑ Breaking Down The Azerbaijani-Iranian Border Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
  6. ↑ 2 February-Youth Day in Azerbaijan
  7. ↑ http://www.news.az/articles/society/82741 Azerbaijan marks Oil Workers’ Day
  8. ↑ http://www.azerbaijans.com/content_572_en.html Office of Public Prosecutor of the Republic of Azerbaijan
  9. ↑ South Travels – Azerbaijan
  10. ↑ GALLUP WorldView – data accessed on 17 january 2009
  11. ↑ Azerbaijan's Udin ethnic minority celebrates Easter.
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