Nowruz (نوروز), which signifies “New Day” is celebrated on March 20 by Persians actually following the Zoroastrian religion. It is otherwise called Iranian and Persian New Year. Persian New Year, otherwise called Norooz, Navroz, Nowrooz, or Nowruz, is a thirteen-day festival of joy celebrated every year by Iranians around the world. It is the first day of spring or Vernal Equinox. The day is determined as the sun crosses the celestial equator in this manner equalizing the length of day and night precisely every year.
20 Fun and Interesting facts about Nowruz
- Nowruz is the name of the New Year’s Day holiday that is praised by numerous nations in the Middle East and Central Asia and those in the Bahá’í faith (say “ba-HIGH”). It denotes the start of the Bahá’í year and falls toward the beginning of spring. This year, the holiday is seen on March 20th (or 21st, depending on your location). Nowruz signifies “new day,” which is fitting since it celebrates fresh starts.
- It is additionally pronounced as Norooz, Nawrouz, Newroz, Novruz, Nowrouz, Nawrouz, Nauryz, Nooruz, Nowruz, Navruz, Nevruz, Nowruz, Navruz.
- Persian New Year always starts on the first day of spring – the Vernal Equinox – which is symbolic of new life, rebirth, fresh starts, and reestablishment. The festival has its roots in Zoroastrianism and has been seen by the Iranian people (when known as the Persians) for at least 3,000 years.
- Before the holiday, individuals plan for Nowruz with a nineteen-day Bahá’í fast. They abandon food from sunrise to sunset. During this time, individuals additionally focus on daily prayers and reflections. Some prepare for Nowruz by cleaning their home from top to bottom and decorating their homes with fresh flowers. At the point when Nowruz, at last, shows up, individuals dress up and visit with loved ones, celebrating with prayers, music, dancing, and feasts. It’s an opportunity for a happy celebration.
- A significant tradition is the Haft Sin or Seven S’s, things on a table that symbols spiritual virtues. Generally, the Haft Sin comprises of apples for beauty (Sib), dried lotus tree fruit for love (Senjed), vinegar for patience (Serkeh), sumac berries for sunrise (Somaq), garlic for health (Sir), sweet wheat germ porridge for affluence (Samanu), and a dish of sprouted wheat barley for rebirth (Sabzeh). Extra things that might be incorporated are coins (prosperity and wealth), decorated eggs (richness), goldfish (life), and hyacinths and tulips (spring).
- The Haft-Sin table is a significant piece of Nowruz festivities. This table is deliberately set up with things, some of which will be shared with loved ones on the holiday. A special cloth called a sofreh is first positioned on the table. At that point, seven traditional items are arranged on it. Every item is a symbol of spring and renewal. In some cases, the table is additionally decorated with different things, similar to a holy book, a mirror, a goldfish in a bowl for good luck, or painted eggs.
- The colors of Persian New Year are red, white, and green – the colors of the flag of Iran.
- Hajji Firuz is a singing, dancing figure playing the trumpet and tambourine who heralds Persian New Year. His face is painted black and he wears red. His visit to a family’s house should bring joy, blessings, and abundance in the coming year. Hajji Firuz is likewise the assistant of Amoo Norooz, who, similar to Santa Claus, carries gifts to children.
- A divination custom practiced by some during Persian New Year is to hide somewhere and listen in on others’ discussions. Hearing good news or a positive discussion implies favorable luck.
- Iran really shares this holiday with ten different countries. A national holiday in Afghanistan, Albania, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iraqi Kurdistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, it’s likewise an unofficial holiday seen in a few different nations.
- While Nowruz has been celebrated since the change of the Iranian Calendar in the 11th century CE to mark the new year, the United Nations officially perceived the “International Day of Nowruz” with the adoption of UN resolution 64/253 in 2010. The UN General Assembly announced March 21 International Nowruz Day in 2010.
- Nowruz was added to the UNESCO List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2010. To remember the UN recognition, Iran revealed a commemorative postage stamp during the first International Nowruz Celebrations in Tehran on Saturday, March 27, 2010.
- In 2016, it was added to the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
- Nowruz goes back around 3,000 years to Zoroastrianism, one of the oldest monotheistic religions and religion of antiquated Persians before the Islamic success of the seventh century.
- Painted eggs like Easter, gift-exchanging like Christmas, Haji Firooz like Santa Claus, and knocking on doors asking for treats like Halloween (without the costumes!).
- Furthermore, a traditional Nowruz meal calls for the staples sabzi polo bâ mâhi, a fragrant herb pilaf with whitefish, and Kuku sabzi, a frittata made with different herbs like coriander, dill, parsley, fenugreek, tarragon, and others.
- Or deed o bâzdeed, as is commonly said in Persian. During this two-week holiday, more youthful individuals from the family offer their appreciation to the older first, and afterward, the elder members return their visit a few days after the fact. Children usually money in right now as they get pocketfuls of eidi, cash, from each visit.
- The thirteenth and last day of Nowruz, Sizdah Bedar, is a day when Iranians should go through the day outside in case they have misfortune in the new year. Parks overflow with local people cooking and eating the traditional âsh soup.
- Thirteen days after Nowruz is celebrated, a celebration called Sizdah Bedar is held. On this day, families spend time outside at a park or in the open country and have a festive picnic. The day is tied in with being outside in nature and enjoying spring. By the day’s end, every family discards the greenery from their Haft-Sin table. This ritual represents a fresh start for families as the New Year begins.
- Individuals likewise light bonfires on the streets and light firecrackers, dancing around fires with connected arms to praise the event. Individuals would likewise visit their darlings, hold feasts, and exchange gifts.
