New Year's Tree 2019 on Somoni Square, Dushanbe, Tajikistan

The capital of Tajikistan, the city of Dushanbe, is already anticipating the New Year 2019. A large New Year's tree has been installed on Ismoili Somoni Square, and on New Year's Eve, a festive concert will traditionally be held near it. But they didn't just put up the New Year's tree; the whole city is decorated festively with colorful lights, garlands, and shimmering illuminations everywhere. Everything is very beautiful, magical, and you can't help but start expecting a miracle. The feeling of the holiday is literally in the air.

Navruz — New Day: How Spring is Welcomed from Dushanbe to Tokyo

Every year, on March 21, when night equals day, our planet pauses in anticipation of a miracle. The spring equinox is not just an astronomical event — it is an ancient threshold, beyond which nature sheds the shackles of winter and the world enters a new cycle of life. This day is known in many corners of the Earth, but perhaps the most vibrant and heartfelt traditions belong to the peoples of Central Asia and the Middle East. In Tajikistan, it is called Navruz, which from Persian literally means «new day».

New Year’s Tangerines — A Short Story

The evening of December 31st didn’t feel festive at all. A sleet of icy pellets was falling from the sky, and a gusty wind made everything worse. Huddled against it, I walked down the sidewalk, cursing the weather, New Year’s, and my boss who’d made me stay late at work—where, by the way, they hadn’t given me my advance pay. Now I’d have to wait for my salary until after the holidays, and I had next to nothing left. At least I’d bought the New Year’s groceries ahead of time.

Hiking in Odzhuk Gorge for Epiphany, Varzob, mountains of Tajikistan

The tradition of Epiphany bathing dates back to ancient times. Of course, if you have the opportunity to bathe in the holy Jordan River (in Israel) on Epiphany, do not miss it. However, you can bathe on Epiphany in any lake, river, or body of water. It is preferable for the ice hole to be in the form of a cross. But there are no strict rules for how to bathe on Epiphany. In other words, a mountain river, in our case, is perfect.