What is the Ancient Nowruz

It is the old Iranian new year festival of spring which starts at the exact moment of the start of the spring(the vernal equinox). Its the start of the New Year among Iranians. Nowruz has been celebrated for at least 3,000 years and is deeply rooted in the rituals and traditions of the Zoroastrian religion.

Nowruz is celebrated in Iran and some countries like: Iraq, India, Afghanistan, Tajikestan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. Its name means( from Avestan) meaning “new day/daylight”. Nowruz time is March 20/21 each year, at the time the sun enters Aries and Spring begins.

The Indian Parsis Zoroastrian celebrating Nowruz twice, first when their Iranian brethren on the vernal equinox(Jamshedi Nowroz), and second on a day in July or August, follow the Kadmi or the calendar. This is because of intercalation in the Zoroastrian calendar was lost on their arrival to India.

Although the Persian Calendar is meticulous about start of the new year, Nowruz itself is by definition the calender of first day of the year, regardless of when the natural start of the year happens.

In Iranian new year, people are feasting, visiting their family members and friends, and exchanging gifts in nowruz day. they give toys to kids, and colourfully painted eggs. There is A wide range of cultural performances. Families eating symbolic meal, often contains rice and vegetables (maybe fish) blended with many local ingredients.

In preparation of a Nowruz(Iranian new year) table, which is there number of symbolic objects are placed. the most common features are:candles, dishes of green sprouts (or Sabzeh), a traditional dish made out of crushed wheat sprouts, mirrors, eggs, and various fruits and water. These objects symbolise purity, abundance, happiness, brightness and fertility for the new year. Iranian, named this table “Sofreh-ye Haft Sin”, there are seven objects, that each one starting with the letter ‘S’. A similar things are seting in Indians table.

Nowruz was inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Cultural humanity Heritage in 2009. And in 2010, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 21 March International Nowruz Day.

How is Nowruz Celebration in Iran?

Persians are preparing this to celebrate Nowruz(Iranian new year). Iranian carry out a thorough cleaning of their houses. The cleaning is called “sweeping the dust”; represents a wish to put away old things, bid farewell to the old year, and welcome the New Year. The arrival of spring means that the cold season is over and warmth is on the way. But to many countries in the Middle East and Central Asia, especially Iran, there’s more to it than that. For Iranian, the arrival of spring is all about a long lasting tradition.

1. Khaneh Tekani! or Sweeping the dust

It is about early March with ‘spring cleaning’or ‘Khaneh Tekani,’ literary meaning ‘shaking the house,’ is common in almost every household. windows, Carpets are washed, curtains are taken to the dry cleaners and old furniture is repaired or replaced with a new one.

Everyone in family should help in this working, this is shows the start of year. People believe that by wiping away and washing the dust, mischief and blackness will go away.

After that, it’s shopping time. People go shopping to buy clothes and accessories and they are crowded everywhere.  They usually buy these things: New clothes, new shoes, sweets and confectionariesو fresh fruits, nuts, flowers and the required equipment for Haft Seen Table. In the last days of the year, buying and selling flowers is much more and the streets are filled with beautiful flowers with pleasant smells. Flowers are a sign of good fortune in Farsi culture and bring beauty to the houses.

2.Chaharshanbe Soori or the Fire Festival

One of the most important traditions of Nowruz (Iranian new year) is the “chahar shanbe Suri”, which is a kind of celebration of fire, which will be held on the eve of the middle of the last calendar year. The festival includes special rituals and interesting and fun ceremonies, especially jumping on fire.

As the sun sets, the people turn on the lights and Come around the fire. َAnd when they do this, they sing “zardi-ye man az to, sorkhi-ye toh az man” it means: my yellow is yours, your red is mine. At this ceremony, they want fire to burn their brightness and problems and give them energy and warmth.

As the last day of the year ends, everyone goes to their homes with their families and loved ones. Celebrate the New Year with special moments and share joy and appreciation with family members. As the clock is ticking and the new year is getting closer, families are seen around the haft sin table.

3.Sizdah Bedar or 13th Day of Nowruz

This is an old and cultural Iranian celebrated on the Iranian new year holiday, called the celebration of nature or ‘Sizdah Bedar’. This national event falls on the 13th and the last day of the holidays and this time all Iranians will go to nature. And this is also to get rid of the so-called No. 13.

And people go to the parks or around the city to set up tents and picnics for nature.Children play different games while adults are preparing lunch. Making kebabs is a tradition and men usually take the lead. They start to cook, while the ladies are preparing meat.