Welcoming Spring and New Beginnings: Celebrating Nowruz ๐
As the days get longer and the first signs of spring emerge, many around the world are preparing to celebrate Nowruz, the Persian New Year. Falling on or around the spring equinox, Nowruz is a joyous occasion marking the beginning of a new year in the pre-Gregorian Persian calendar. It's a time to embrace optimism, celebrate good fortune, and look forward to the possibilities the coming year holds.
Nowruz, meaning "new day" in Persian (Fฤrsฤซ), typically falls on March 21st on the Gregorian calendar, coinciding with the spring equinox and the first day of the month of Farvardฤซn on the Iranian calendar.
While its roots lie in the ancient Zoroastrian religion, Nowruz continues to be a significant, largely secular festival celebrated in Iran, Afghanistan, the Kurdish regions of Syria, Iraq, and Turkey, parts of the Caucus region with a history of Persian diaspora, and among Persian communities globally.The United Nations even recognizes March 21st as International Nowruz Day, highlighting its cultural significance.
Celebration/customs:
The spirit of Nowruz is one of renewal and fresh starts. To symbolize this, celebrants often engage in "khaneh tekani," a thorough spring cleaning of their homes.
It's a time for gift exchanges, family gatherings, and even buying new clothes, with children often enjoying a break from school.As Zohreh Mirsharif, a professor at American University, explains, "All houses undergo a big cleaning...People will change the colors of the walls; they will wash everything. This is the new beginning." Some pre-festival rituals include leaping over fire and streams to cleanse away the negativity of the past year.
A central tradition in Iran is the gathering of families around the ceremonial Haft-Sin table. This table displays seven items beginning with the Persian letter "sin," each holding special symbolism. These items include apples (seeb) for beauty, garlic (seer) for health, vinegar (serkeh) for patience, hyacinth (sonbol) for spring, sweet pudding (samanu) for fertility, sprouts (sabzeh) for rebirth, and coins (sekeh) for wealth.
On the 13th day of Nowruz, some countries observe Sizdah Bedar, a custom where families picnic outdoors to ward off bad luck.
As NPR reports, "Since the 13th is an unlucky day, entire families go on picnics and take with them the sprouts (sabzeh) from the haftseen table."The sabzeh, typically wheat, barley, or lentils grown in a pot, is believed to absorb the previous year's pain and trouble. Throwing it into water at the end of the festival symbolizes letting go of those misfortunes with the arrival of the new year.
As we welcome the spring equinox, let's also celebrate the rich cultural heritage and the spirit of renewal that Nowruz brings. It's a reminder of the enduring power of tradition and the hope that comes with new beginnings. Happy Nowruz to all who celebrate!