Nowruz, the Persian New Year, is also celebrated in Iran today. We explain the background of the millennia-old festival.
Nowruz (Now = new, ruz = day) is the Persian New Year festival celebrated by more than 300 million people in Iran, Afghanistan, Syria, and the Kurdish regions of Iraq and Turkey, among other places. It is one of the oldest festivals, with a history of well over 3,000 years, and is celebrated with the day of the sun's astronomically calculated entry into the zodiac sign of Aries, the beginning of spring (equinox), according to dialogeperspective.org. This day falls annually on March 20 or 21; the time varies according to the beginning of the equinox.
Nowruz is celebrated across religions by all ethnic groups. Since 2009, the International Day of Nowruz (March 21) has been included on UNESCO's "Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
For Iranians, preparations for the festival begin weeks beforehand with "Khane Tekani," a cleansing ritual. It corresponds to the spring cleaning we are familiar with. The entire house is thoroughly cleaned, carpets and furniture are cleaned, and cupboards are sorted out and tidied.
The fire festival "Chaharshanbe Soori" (Chaharchanbe = Wednesday, Soori = red/fire) is celebrated on the evening of the last Wednesday before the New Year. Thereby a bonfire is lit. Young and old come together, jump over the fire and say traditional verses like "sorkhi-ye to az man, zardi-ye man az to" (your red from me, my yellow from you), which means "give me your red color" (health, strength) and "take away my sickly pallor" (see tirgan.ca). It is another purification ritual that symbolizes the closing of the old year and the removal of everything bad. The origin of this festival lies in Zoroastrianism, where fire is considered a symbol of purity.
"Sofreye Haft-Sin" (Sofre = table, Haft = seven, Sin = Persian letter "S") is a special table decoration and an important part of Nowruz. The table is decorated with seven items, all of which have the initial letter "Sin":
1. sabzeh: green things like wheat or barley sprouts, symbolizes liveliness.
2. samanou: sweet pudding made from wheat germ, symbolizes beneficence and blessing
3. sir: garlic, symbolizes health and healing
4. sendsched: Flour berry, symbolizes love
5. serkeh: vinegar, symbolizes patience and endurance
6. somagh: spice sumac, symbolizes the taste of life
7. sib: apple, symbolizes beauty and health
These other items can also decorate the Haft-Sin tablet: Sonbol (hyacinth, friendship), Sekkeh (coins, prosperity), Ayeneh (mirror, purity), Sham (candle, the holy fire), Tokhm-e Morgh (eggs, fertility), Mahi (goldfish, happiness), Ketab (book, wisdom and knowledge, usually Shahname of Ferdousi, Divan of Hafiz or a holy book). (labsalliebe.com)
On the 13th day after Nowruz, the festival "Sizdah-bedar" ("getting rid of 13") takes place. "Popular belief associates the number 13 with misfortune and calamity," Iran Journal explains. Families and friends gather for a picnic, singing, playing, dancing and ending the festivities at the same time. "Not even the ultra-conservative rulers of the country can prevent Iran from turning into a festival mile on this day." Wheat sprouts (sabzeh) are thrown into a river. This symbolizes the cycle of life by giving something back to nature.