Spring 1999 (7.1)

Holidays in Azerbaijan
Dates and Description

by Jala Garibova and Betty Blair

Holidays - Independent Azerbaijan 1999

January 1	New Year's Day 1
January 20	Martyr's Day Commemorates Black January (1990) when Soviet troops entered Baku and killed more than 180 civilians. Also victims of the Karabakh War (1988) are remembered.
January 30	Ramadan 2
March 8	Women's Day 1
March 20-21	Spring Festival
April 8	Sacrifice Day 2
May 28	Republic Day . Founding of Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan (1918).
June 15	National Salvation Day . Parliament invited Heydar Aliyev to Baku to lead the country (1993).
October 8	Army and Navy Day
October 18	National Independence Day Dissolution of Soviet Union (1991).

November 12	Constitution Day (1995)
November 17	National Revival Day . Commemorates the first uprising in Azerbaijan by the Popular Front led by Panakhov against Moscow's policies toward Azerbaijan and the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict (1988).
December 31	International Solidarity Day . Azerbaijanis broke down borders separating them from Iran. A day for Azerbaijanis to feel united with each other (1989).

1 Previously observed during Soviet period
2 New Muslim holidays (Lunar calendar)

Holidays - Soviet Azerbaijan (prior to October 18, 1991)

January 1	New Year's Day
February 23	Soviet Army Day
March 8	Women's Day
April 28	Azerbaijan becomes part of Soviet Union (1920)
May 1 and 2	Labor Day
May 9	Victory by Soviets against Fascists (World War II)
June 1	Children's Day
October 9	New Constitution Day. Instituted by Breshnev; during Stalin's era this holiday was celebrated on December 5 to mark the Great October Socialist Revolution.

From Azerbaijan International (7.1) Spring 1999.
© Azerbaijan International 1999. All rights reserved.

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