Merry Christmas homies!

Azerbaijan is a secular Muslim country, so no one here really celebrates Christmas. However, they do celebrate the New Year, or Yeni Il, and it is one of the biggest holidays in the country.

The best part about this time of year in Azerbaijan is that all of the traditional Christmas decorations that we have in America are used here too - except they are attributed to Yeni Il. This means that we still have Christmas trees, and Christmas lights, and tinsel, and ornaments, and Santa Claus, and all that other wonderful crap associated with the holiday, without any of the baby-Jesus-related parts! So basically Yeni Il here is exactly like Christmas in America for anyone who isn't a practicing Christian.

I spent Christmas this year in Sheki at a PCV's house, which is where I spent it last year as well. Quite a few volunteers were there, and we all celebrated the holiday by watching Elf, doing a white elephant gift exchange, having burgers at the local hotel, and engaging in nightly dance parties. All in all it was a great time.

One kind of related note: Santa Claus. He's called Şaxta Baba here. Main differences:
1) instead of wearing a red and white suit, Şaxta Baba wears a long red robe.
2) Şaxta Baba also carries around a big stick. Why? I have no clue.
3) He ain't fat. Santa Claus is round presumably because of all the cookies and milk he consumes on Christmas Eve. Since Şaxta Baba doesn't give gifts, he never gets to eat all those calories either. Herego a skinny, and creepy, Şaxta Baba.
4) Like all classy gentlemen, Şaxta Baba smokes hookah. Evidence: