Among Azerbaijan's ancient folk customs, lighting bonfires during the Novruz holiday, firing fireworks into the sky, spinning the lopa-üskü and throwing it onto the firewood, and setting the holiday table hold an important place.
Medianews.az reports that these ceremonies are based on an ancient mythical worldview. People sought to drive away cold, darkness, and disease-bringing evil forces with the help of wood and fire, and to invoke the power of the Sun in order to emerge from the forty-day winter period.
While jumping over the bonfire, young girls sang these songs in their hearts, both pouring their fortunes into the fire and trying to drive away evil spirits:
“May my pain and suffering be poured out,
Let it fall into the fire and become ashes,
Let the flame burn and spread,
May my luck open up.”
According to written sources, the Novruz holiday originated in 505 BC. In Nizami Ganjavi's poem "Iskandername" and the works of other classical poets, this holiday is emphasized as the most widely celebrated festival playing an important role in the life of the people. Novruz ceremonies are also regarded as a symbol of life and sustaining life through fire.