13/01/2024
On January 14, Abkhazia celebrates the ancient Abkhaz holiday - Azhyrnyhwa or the holiday of the Creation (renewal) of the world.
Translated from Abkhaz Ажьырныҳәа - ажьира “forge” and аныҳәара “praying”
Despite the fact that the Abkhazians are usually classified as small nations, they are one of the few ethnic groups that have a vibrant, original culture.
The relevance of the Azhyrnykhua holiday among modern Abkhazians is a confirmation of the uniqueness and originality of our people, who, despite many upheavals and globalization processes, managed to preserve their ancient customs. The Abkhaz religion has always been and remains one of the main elements of traditional culture.
The main venue for the event is the smithy (Abkh. azhira). The smithy occupies a special place in the spiritual life of the Abkhazians; it is revered as a sacred place. In different families, the celebration of Azhyrnykha has its own nuances. Its essence remains unchanged: with the onset of darkness, the family members turn to God with a request to preserve and protect their family. The main action is the ritual of sacrifice, which is performed by the eldest man in the house. A goat is sacrificed, as well as roosters and hens according to the number of men and women in the family. A candle is made for each family member from pure beeswax, without impurities, to light it during prayer in the forge.
Prayer begins at nightfall. The eldest man in the family says a prayer. In his right hand he holds a glass of wine, and in his left — the liver and heart of a sacrificial animal, impaled on a hazelnut stick. After the prayer, everyone returns to the house. Here, the head of the family blesses and introduces the woman of the house to the celebration, who, as a representative of another family, does not have the right to participate in prayer in the ancestral Ajira (forge). Usually, the head of the family asks for peace and prosperity for his relatives, people and inhabitants of the whole earth. And in return, he, as a family priest, undertakes to live properly for the whole family — according to his conscience
In Soviet times, such holidays were strictly prohibited. Despite this, many Abkhazians secretly continued to hold Azhyrnykhua, preserving and passing on from generation to generation the ancient customs of their people. Since 1994, after the collapse of the Soviet Union and gaining independence, this day has been included in the official calendar of festive and memorable dates and is one of the main traditional Abkhaz holidays.
The celebration of Azhyrnykhua unites the entire family line. Christians, Muslims, atheists on this day all gather in the family hearth, regardless of religious beliefs. Despite the fact that traditional religion plays a very important role in the life of modern Abkhazians and continues to be one of the most important foundations of the Abkhazian national identity, the current authorities take an emphatically respectful position towards all religions in the country. Today, the cult of Azhyrnykha is not given strong religious significance; it is rather a tribute to traditions and customs, as well as a reason for meetings and maintaining close communication between relatives.