Novruz holidays is one of the greatest, oldest national holidays in our country. The day itself, marks "the Coming of Spring".  It is celebrated on 20-21st of March every year when the nature is waking up and new life is initiated. Before the actual day of the holiday, people celebrate the four last pre-holiday Tuesdays. According to the oldest faith and traditions four last Tuesdays are considered holies. Each Tuesday has its characteristic pecularity such as awakening of nature:  water, fire, wind, earth.

On the last Tuesday before Novruz people light bonfires and jump over them, as in similar spring festivities in Europe. As a rule during  the holidays the doors are not locked and all the families are glad to welcome guests. Several things are used to symbolize the occasion and the most popular in Azerbaijan is sprouted wheat , which is grown in a small vase and placed in a prominent place in the house, such as a table center (the vase with the wheat is called " semeni" ). 
 

During the holiday the table typically includes fresh flowers, candles, sweets and pastries (pakhlava, shekerbura, goghal, sheker chorek etc.), nuts and dyed eggs.

Friends and families visit one another. Usually a very carefully guarded hierarchy is observed and the oldest members of the community receive guests first.

Gifts and food are shared with the needy, poor and sick.

On the last Tuesday prior to Novruz, children celebrate a custom reminiscent of Halloween in the West. They slip around to their neighbours' homes and apartments knock at their doors, and leave their caps or little baskets on the thresholds all the while hiding nearby waiting for candies, pastries and nuts.

The United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution on 18 February declaring 21 March International Novruz Day.

The resolution was the initiative of Azerbaijan's representation at the UN. Prior to its adoption, the draft resolution was revised by UN member states Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,Tajikistan, Turkey and Turkmenistan, all countries where Novruz is celebrated.

In September 2009, the UN's cultural agency, UNESCO, included Novruz in its list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.