Some dances are performed only by men, such as the Choban Regsi, the movements of which are meant to symbolize the work of shepherds in the countryside. Girls are taught to crochet from a young age, in preparation for traditional Seven Beauties tournaments: girls must crochet stockings against the clock, and whoever knits the best pair is declared the winner. For others, it’s akin to a savings account. Each of the four weeks leading up to the spring equinox are dedicated to one of the elements: water, fire, earth, and wind. History of Azerbaijan. Traditional clothing is still used for certain celebration and events, however. Also hailing from Azerbaijan is the youngest International Grand Master ever; 14-year-old Teymur Rajabov. You should love and just try to understand this ancient civilization. Over the centuries, Azerbaijan has enjoyed only brief periods of independent statehood, in between longer periods spent incorporated into major regional empires. In addition to the mugam music, the people of Azerbaijan also take part in a number of special dances that are used to celebrate history, festivals, and major life events. Multicultural Azerbaijan. Impress your friends, get swotting for the next pub quiz, or plan a trip to Azerbaijan, with this guide to the self-dubbed Land of Fire. A photo posted by BAKU CITY TOUR (@baku_city_tour) on Jul 26, 2016 at 5:21pm PDT. The first known fireplace and construction in human history, which is dated back from 700,000 to 500,000 years ago, was discovered in Azikh Cave, the largest cave in Azerbaijan. A photo posted by @o0banknotes0o on Aug 22, 2016 at 1:16pm PDT. Although it makes most money from oil and gas, Azerbaijan also exploits grains, grapes, cotton and livestock. But each note is themed with different aspects of national identity: on 5 Manat notes you’ll find an excerpt from the national anthem, while 20 Manat bills are decorated with a sword, shield and helmet to signify power. One example of folk art is seen on the rugs made here. Throughout the years, this country has been influenced by its time under the Russian Empire, its control by communist governments, and its fight for independence. Today, modern clothing is quite common for both men and women in Azerbaijan and visitors to this country will see a number of jeans, t-shirts, and tennis shoes. Inside, you can browse carpets of all ages, from all over the country – a spectacle only trumped by carpet weaving demonstrations. Rice plays a large role in the main dishes. Beyond celebrations and food, gulesh is another important part of Azerbaijani culture. The Museum of the Dwarf Book, also in Baku, is surprisingly well promoted by the local tourist board and houses an extensive collection of tiny tomes. All of these events have come together to shape the people of modern-day Azerbaijan. The six chambers of the cave complex hold a bounty of prehistoric remains, and it’s thought that the caverns were occupied for nearly two million years. For most Azerbaijanis, however, the ways of life under Soviet rule are best forgotten. If you find yourself in Baku, Azerbaijan’s capital, you might want to limber up for an arm wrestling match: the city is home to the Armwrestling Federation, who host the country’s professional league. The social beliefs and customs of Azerbaijan are heavily influenced by a strong commitment to hospitable behaviors. Another traditional dance performed in this country is the Asma Kasma, which is carried out by female wedding guests as they accompany the newlywed bride to her marital chambers. 10 interesting facts about Azerbaijan! Examples of traditional clothing here include brightly colored dresses with oversized sleeves for women and long jackets over loose pants that are tucked into boots for men. It became a hotbed for religious movements beginning with Christianity in the 4th century CE and later Islam during the 7th century CE. Natural gas is a big earner for Azerbaijan: in 2013, it produced 29 billion cubic metres of the fuel. Artists from each region utilize intricate patterns in their final products, some of which are known for their use of bright colors and others for their choice of specific types of wool. The government has designated an entire week as a public holiday in recognition of Novruz. Each of the four geographical regions of this country incorporates several unique designs in their woven carpets, making it possible to identify the origin of the textile if one has sufficient knowledge of the art. Children’s fingernails and hair are only cut after their first birthday. To mark Azerbaijan’s 27th Independence Day, we’ve unearthed 27 facts about this little-known sliver of Central Asia... Kutabi – filled pancakes – are practically Azerbaijan’s national dish. The Burning Mountain is a rare natural wonder in the Absheron peninsula. A relic of the Soviet days, Ivanovka collective farm is run and worked by a whole community – and they live on everything they grow and make. Following the Scythians, Iranian Medes came to dominate the area to the south of the Aras river. Seven Beauties is a competition where seven girls are given hooks and different coloured threads. The girls must crochet stockings when given the appointed time and the winner is the girl who crochets the best quality stockings in the shortest time. What is Azerbaijan famous for? One of the most famous modern literary works from here is the Heydar Babaya Salam poem, which talks about the childhood life of its author. Notable examples include “Cheap meat never makes a good soup”, “Politeness is not sold in the bazaar”, and “I tried to draw the eyebrow, but I ended up poking the eye”. It was built in 1949, and communities have cropped up around bakeries, shops, cultural areas, hostels and hotels. An interesting thought he backed up by saying that this would be caused by the ongoing conflict in the Armenian occupied Nagorno-Karabakh region which proclaimed independence from Azerbaijan in the 90s. Azeri culture is known for its history of folklore and superstition, here are a few popular beliefs: “Leaving scissors with opened blades brings misfortune and even death.”, “If you meet a person with empty buckets, you are bound for misfortune.”. and never miss out again. Food and Recipes: People usually eat three meals a day. Quite. English isn’t widely spoken, so bring a phrasebook. As you draw closer, Cumay will remove the cloth to reveal the stuffed head of a wolf, and if you offer a donation the wolf's eyes will light up brightly. Once situated along the Great Silk Road, many peoples have passed through these lands, helping to shape the nation’s unique traditions of tolerance and hospitality.Today, Azerbaijan is a secular country where Sunni and Shia Muslims, Christians, Jews and many other small nations have been living in peace for centuries. This custom is rather unique when compared to other tea drinking cultures around the world. Oily Rocks (Neft Dashlar) is the first and largest town on stilts to be constructed at sea. Mugam songs are performed in theater halls as a way to present traditional epic poems, the lyrics of which are sung in a particular style that is often compared to yodeling. This type of music has been recognized by UNESCO as an example of Cultural Heritage. If you drop bread on the floor, it’s custom to kiss it, as an apology. When bread goes stale, Azerbaijani cooks don’t just chuck it in the bin: they hang it up in bags, separate from the rest of the rubbish, to signify their respect. The country has a pretty appalling human rights record, as outlined by The Telegraph’s Rebecca Vincent in a behind-the-scenes look at the tournament. The mountain, not far from Baku, has entranced travellers and conquerors for centuries: in the 13th century, explorer Marco Polo wrote of the mysterious fires that burned all over on the peninsula. It’s famed for its epic mountain ranges and the mulberry groves and vineyards that flourish in its valleys. Azerbaijan, a country that sits between Asia and Europe, has a rich culture that is a reflection of its unique history, customs, religions, beliefs, and people. In Azerbaijan, tea is served from a large, metal vessel with a pear-like shape. Azerbaijan’s Carpet Museum opened in 2014, on Baku’s seafront, in a building that’s shaped like a giant rolled-up rug. "Azerbaijan might come up occasionally in a pub quiz (What two countries begin but don’t end with the letter ‘A’? One of the ways the culture expresses hospitality is by sharing a cup of tea with guests. Azerbaijan also has a rich history of literature that begins with the epic poems of the 800’s CE. In the evening, before sunset, they pour this water with the coins outside. In the lowest reaches of Azokh Cave in western Azerbaijan, archaeologists have found tools and remains dating back 1.5 million years. We urge you to turn off your ad blocker for The Telegraph website so that you can continue to access our quality content in the future. Azerbaijan, a country that sits between Asia and Europe, has a rich culture that is a reflection of its unique history, customs, religions, beliefs, and people.This nation has a population size of over 8 million individuals, whose national identity has been … Instead of sweetening the tea directly in the cup, people in this country instead take a bite of a sugar cube followed by a drink of tea. Traditionally served in a pear shaped glass, the drink is often consumed through lumps of sugar or jam, held in the mouth. One of the biggest festivals celebrated in this country is the Novruz, which marks both the beginning of springtime and the beginning of the new year. Sign up today for free and be the first to get notified of new articles, new competitions, new events and more. It’s roughly the same size as neighbouring Armenia and Georgia, but is dwarfed by Turkey, Iran and Russia, who it also shares borders with. Our tour guide claimed that the third world war will start in the Caucasus and in Azerbaijan in particular. Bring a microscope. During this era, the area of present-day Azerbaijan was inhabited by Turkic ethnic groups, Caucasian Albanians, Iranian language speakers, and Kurds. Early settlements included the Scythians during the 9th century BC. Share your experiences, tips and photos... More, Sign up for our newsletter today Baku is also home to Little Venice, a man-made waterway that flows between shops, restaurants and entertainment venues. Being friendly and welcoming to guests is one of the pillars of the culture here and as hosts, the people of Azerbaijan go out of their way to make sure visitors are comfortable. Rugs from Azerbaijan are quite well-known, given that this product has been produced here since ancient times. Situated in the Caspian Sea, the town was built in phases after 1947. Culture Subscribe ... we’ve unearthed 27 facts about this little-known sliver of Central Asia... 1.