Like its neighbor Iran, Azerbaijan practices Shia Islam. Nothing unique about this. However, they view Sunni Turkey as a brother. The nation enjoys positive relations with Israel, which is unheard of in the Islamic world. That's not all, though. Many Azerbaijanis are pro-Russian due to centuries of Russian influence. The same people support the West as well. In essence, the culture of Azerbaijan appears to be a delicious fusion of all the best elements.

Experience some of the best hospitality in the world by traveling to Azerbaijan. Locals go out of their way to assist visitors, and visitors are a valuable resource. When you stay at a homestay, the hosts pamper you with endless cups of tea (called armuda), snacks, and anything else. If you ask for directions, they might demonstrate rather than explain. Younger people who can communicate in English are frequently delighted to talk about their home country. The Azerbaijani culture strongly values gracious hospitality.

Avoid grinning at Azerbaijanis in public because they won't likely return the favor and will instead treat you strangely or assume you have a mental disability. In Azerbaijan, smiling in public is improper and is not permitted.

Smiling is customarily saved for family and friends; doing so in front of a stranger without first addressing them is considered rude since they might assume you're making fun of them or that something is wrong with their appearance, such as their clothes or their hair.

Furthermore, it's widely accepted that a "Western smile" or grin, as in "You don't really mean it," is fake. However, when speaking to someone, a true, polite grin is appropriate and will be welcomed. Since sales representatives, public employees, and others are required to look professional and serious, smiling is still quite uncommon in customer service. Presenters of news, weather, and even show hosts on television hardly ever grin.

In major cities and tourist destinations, public demonstrations of affection are acceptable but may draw unwanted attention from passersby. It should be avoided in more remote regions where it is frowned upon. Gay and lesbian travelers should refrain from showing any overt affection because doing so would inevitably draw unwanted attention from onlookers. However, overt displays of affection are considered unacceptable regardless of sexual orientation.

You'll observe that Azerbaijanis typically speak quietly in public. Don't shout during a conversation. The Azerbaijani approach of doing business is a decent silent chat, which would be well appreciated.Unless the discussion is noisy and too "private," using a cell phone while in a restaurant or on a public transit is deemed appropriate. Littering is extremely impolite and could result in a fine. On the sidewalks and close to most establishments, there are a lot of garbage cans and waste bins.

Younger people in Azerbaijan appreciate elderly people, thus if you are an older person, a person with a disability, a pregnant woman, or you are traveling with children, they will always offer you a seat on a bus, tram, metro, or other type of public transit.

When addressing an older person or someone in a position of authority, it is polite to slightly bend (not fully bow). With elder people or those in positions of leadership, younger people always start the greeting. As previously indicated, it is considered polite to let women board and exit buses, trams, subways, and other kinds of public transit first, as well as enter and exit rooms.

Use the person's initial name followed by the appropriate honorific if you don't know them well. Use "Xan?m" for ladies; it is pronounced "hanm" ("Mrs."). Use "Cnab" for men; it's pronounced "jenab" ("Mr"). Use the appropriate English honorific "Mr." or "Mrs." before their last name if they are able to communicate in English. The Azerbaijani language lacks the English honorific "Ms." since there is no distinction between married and unmarried women, and calling a young woman "Ms." is considered impolite and disrespectful.

After having been a member of the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union, not everyone has a considerate and helping disposition. A few decades ago, people in power enjoyed showing off their influence. Azerbaijan still contains a minority of people with outdated ideologies and a Soviet mentality. An illustration of this may be someone yelling at visitors who are snapping pictures close to a monument because they are perceived as disrespectful. Weak habits persist.

As is the case throughout the entire CIS/former USSR region, women are traditionally treated with the utmost respect in Azerbaijan. It is not sexual harassment or being condescending to women if female travelers do not react with surprise or outrage when their Azerbaijani male companions pay their restaurant tabs, open every door in front of them, or offer to assist them carry anything heavier than a handbag. Male travellers should understand that this is exactly the sort of behaviour that most Azerbaijani girls and women will expect from them, too.

Although Azerbaijan is nominally a totally secular state and has a majority of agnostics and non-religious people, 95 percent of the population is Shiite Muslim. This holds true not just in big cities but also in small towns and rural places.

Never presume that someone you do not know is religiously fervent in Islam or any other faith, or that they have a belief in God. Investigations into people's religions are generally undesirable, and public demonstrations of your faith outside of places of worship ought to be kept to yourself.

Saying grace, for instance, is probably going to be regarded with confusion and quiet. While acceptable, wearing religious clothing like Muslim head coverings, kippahs, or even t-shirts with religious slogans will make many Azerbaijanis uneasy. Authorities can be suspicious of those with long beards. If you respect it, others will respect you as well.

Similar to Israel and the Middle East, Azerbaijan and Armenia have a close relationship. Since 1988, they have been at odds over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh area. Even mentioning the term causes skepticism and brows to furrow. A generation ago, hundreds of thousands of Azerbaijani refugees were driven from their communities in the Karabakh. People remain resentful. Tensions are high. Regularly, cease-fires are broken.

Avoid bringing up Armenia, Armenians, or the incredibly tense Nagorno-Karabakh conflict with neighboring Armenia, which occupies the secessionist Nagorno-Karabakh region. Due to the fighting, Azerbaijan has lost 20% of its territory and now needs to provide for 800,000 refugees and internally displaced people. Armenians are the target of a great deal of bitterness and hostility.

Azerbaijan is symbolized by fire. Infernos have a long history in Azerbaijani culture, from Baku's Flame Towers to Zoroastrian fire temples and boiling water. According to science, the enormous amounts of underground gas are to blame. In terms of culture, fire provided illumination and was mystical to the first settlers.

For the ancients, Azerbaijan was a strange place. Flames frequently erupt from the sea and mountains. Consider what the populace thought at the time, when the earth, fire, air, and water were primarily adored. Zoroastrianism was created; it was once one of the most popular religions in the world and is thought to have impacted the development of Judaism.

The early Zoroastrians gave fire a lot of significance since they thought it symbolized the light of wisdom. Ateshgah, close to Baku, developed into a major place of prayer and pilgrimage up until the Arabs introduced Islam there in the tenth century. The majority of Zoroastrians then fled to Northern India from Iran and Azerbaijan.

The culture of Azerbaijan is as diverse as its landscapes, which span 75% of the globe's climatic zones. There are several different religions in existence today, ranging from early Zoroastrians and Islamic influences to more modern Orthodox Christians and old Caucasian Jewish settlements. Add to this the fact that every region has its unique customs, cuisine, and carpet-weaving techniques. Azerbaijani culture has an intriguing allure when influences from Iran, Turkey, Russia, and more recently the West are taken into account.

Iranian Azerbaijan and the independent Republic of Iran are home to the Azerbaijani, also referred to as Azerbaijani Turks. After the Anatolian Turks, Azerbaijanis are the second most numerous ethnic group among the Turkic peoples. The term "Azerbaijani" also refers to the Turkic inhabitants of Azerbaijan, who were formerly known as Turkmens, Turks, Ajam, Muslims, and Persians during the period when religious identity predominated over ethnic identification.

The majority of the population of Azerbaijan are Shi'a Muslims, and their official tongue is Azerbaijani. They have a diverse cultural background that includes Iranian, Turkic, and Caucasian characteristics. With 92% of the population, the Azerbaijani are the majority ethnic group in Azerbaijan.

Make sure to bring a present when you are invited into an Azerbaijani home. Anything is acceptable, including flowers (be sure to purchase an odd number of flowers, as an even number is connected with funerals), chocolate (but not wine or other alcoholic beverages), and even a memento of your home nation.

In Azerbaijani culture, the value of a present is determined by its meaning rather than its cost. And if you truly desire their respect, express your gratitude for the invitation and pay them compliments. Do not take advantage of the host's generosity; they will go out of their way to make you feel at home.

If the owner doesn't specifically say otherwise, remove your shoes as soon as you enter the house after arriving there. Even then, taking off your shoes might be considered more courteous. Slippers might be provided to you. Because Azerbaijanis are such nice and clean people, you shouldn't worry that your feet will become dirty because the floors are just as clean as the walls.