About Nowruz -

Nowruz means 'new day' in Persian. It is a holiday that marks the first day of spring & start of the Persian new year. Celebrated millions of people worldwide, particularly countries like Iran, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan and many part of Central Asia. Nowruz is a time for renewal, family gathering & looking forward to the fresh start.

History of Nowruz -

Nowruz has been celebrated for over 3000 years, making it one of the oldest holiday still observed today. The festival has its root in ancient Persia (modern day Iran) and was initially a celebration of the new year based on the solar calendar. The holiday is timed with the vernal equinox which happens around March 20th or 21st each year. On this day the length of day & night are equal.
Originally Nowruz was celebrated by Zoroastrians, an ancient religion in Persia. Over the time the festival spreads to other cultures & religions and today people of many different background celebrate it. Nowruz is seen as a time of renewal where people reflect on the past year & prepare for the new opportunities in year ahead.

Traditions & Celebrations-

One of the most important tradition during Nowruz is setting up a special table called the HALF- SEEN. The HALF- SEEN is a table decorated with seven symbolic items. Each starting with the letter 'S' in Persian. These items represent different themes of life such as health, love and prosperity. Some of items commonly found on the HALF- SEEN table includes:
  • Sabez (sprouts)- Symbolic rebirth & renewal.
  • Samanu (Sweet pudding)- Represent strength & power.
  • Seer (garlic)- Represent health & medicine.
  • Senjed (dried fruits)- Symbolize love & compassion.
  • Seeb ( apple)- Symbolizes beauty & health.
  • Somaq (sumac berries)- Represents the sunrise & patience.
  • Serkeh ( vinegar)- Symbolize aging & wisdom.
Another important part of the celebration is the tradition of spring cleaning before Nowruz people clean their homes to get rid of old unused things symbolizing the cleaning of bad luck and negative energy from the past year. On the first day of Nowruz, family come together for big meal and people visit relatives and friends to exchange gifts and well wishes.

In some culture, people also light Bonfires and jump over them this act is mean to symbolize the burning away of old Misfortunes and illnesses as well as to welcome the new year with health and happiness.

Nowruz around the world-

Although Nowruz started in Iran, it is celebrated in many countries across the world in Afghanistan Nowruz is a time for family gathering, special foods and traditional games. In Azerbaijan, people enjoy fireworks, music and dancing. Central Asian countries like Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan also celebrate Nowruz with festivals, traditional music and special foods.

In 2010 the United Nations recognized Nowruz as an international day of celebration recognizing the holidays importance in bringing people together across different culture.

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FAQs -

1. How long does Nowruz last?

Nowruz celebrations typically last for 13 days, with the main celebrations taking place on the first day of the new year. On the 13th day, people traditionally go outdoors to enjoy nature, symbolizing the final farewell to the old year and embracing the new.

2. What is the meaning of "Nowruz"?

The word "Nowruz" means "new day" in Persian. It signifies the start of a new year and new opportunities, as well as a celebration of life, nature, and renewal.

3. What is the significance of fire in Nowruz?

Fire plays an important role in Nowruz celebrations. People light bonfires and jump over them as a way to symbolically cleanse themselves of past hardships and bad luck. This is called the Chaharshanbe Suri (the last Wednesday before Nowruz), which is a festival of fire.