Nowruz, which translates to "new day," is an ancient Iranian festival that heralds the arrival of spring. Celebrated on the day of the astronomical vernal equinox, typically March 21st, Nowruz unites more than 300 million people across regions like the Balkans, the Black Sea Basin, the Caucasus, Central Asia, and the Middle East. With a history dating back over 3,000 years, Nowruz carries deep significance.
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Described as "the renewal of the world" by the 11th-century Persian astronomer and poet Omar Khayyam, Nowruz's origins, while not definitively known, trace back at least 3,000 years to a time when the Persian Empire extended its influence. Interestingly, Nowruz is notably absent from the Avesta, the ancient Zoroastrian texts.
Nowruz, also spelled as Nōrūz, Nō Rūz, or Nō-Rūz, marks the Persian New Year on the Persian calendar, commencing on March 21st on the Gregorian calendar. While primarily secular, Nowruz retains influences from Zoroastrianism and Parsiism, particularly in countries with Persian cultural ties like Iran, Iraq, India, Afghanistan, and Central Asia. The celebration includes various traditions, such as the arrangement of the haft-sīn, featuring seven symbolic items representing renewal and the arrival of spring.
Nowruz, meaning "new day," is a cherished Iranian national festival celebrating the advent of spring. Commencing on the first day of Farvardīn, the initial month of the Iranian solar calendar, which aligns with the spring equinox, this twelve-day festival stands as the most widely celebrated and vibrant in Iranian culture. While rooted in Zoroastrian Persia, Nowruz transcends religious boundaries and symbolizes a universal appreciation for fresh beginnings and the blossoming of life, making it a cherished observance for all.