Nowruz, which means “new day” in Persian, is one of the most important and beloved holidays in the Iranian tradition. It is celebrated not just in Iran but across a number of countries with Persian influence, including parts of India, Afghanistan, and Central Asia.
It marks the spring and a new year in the Persian calendar. Nowruz Persian New Year has deep roots. This article examines its history, customs, and contemporary observance as a glimpse into how this ancient holiday endures as a force of renewal, joy, and community.
Nowruz’s roots go back over 3,000 years, and it is believed to originate from Zoroastrianism, one of the world’s ancient monotheistic religions. Nowruz, which means “new day” in Persian, dates back over 3,000 years when it was celebrated by ancient Persians as the spring equinox when day and night are the same length, which represents the balance of good and evil in the Zoroastrian religion.
Legend has it that Nowruz was introduced to mankind by the legendary Persian King Jamshid after he saved humanity from a bitter winter and brought light and warmth to the world. Gradually, Nowruz transformed from a Zoroastrian holiday into a cultural celebration observed by the various peoples of the Persian Empire and beyond.
Over time and amid different political regimes — the rise of Islam throughout the region — the celebration of Nowruz was maintained with a message of renewal, hope, and the new year. Today, Nowruz marks an International Day recognized by the United Nations, which speaks volumes about Nowruz's importance worldwide.
The most symbolic tradition of Nowruz is Haft-Seen, the table (or sofreh) that is set in every Persian home. Haft-Seen is a spread of seven symbolic items starting with the letter "S" in Persian. These are:
Besides these seven key components, families often include a mirror (to reflect on the lives of their loved ones), colored eggs (which signify fertility), a goldfish (another representation of life), and candles (to represent light and happiness). This elaborate setting incorporates themes of the Nowruz Persian New Year, the symbolism of renewal, prosperity, and hope for the upcoming future.
The festivities for Nowruz start long before the Persian New Year’s Day itself. They involve an extensive cleaning of homes, called "Khaneh Takani," which means to "shake the house." This tradition is a physical and spiritual cleansing—ridding oneself of the old to make way for the new. In the weeks before Nowruz, shoppers scour stores for new clothes, home decorations, and the ingredients needed to make traditional dishes.
Another significant occasion within this period is called Chaharshanbe Suri, or the "Festival of Fire," which is celebrated on the eve of the last Wednesday before Nowruz. People congregate in streets and parks to light bonfires and leap over the flames. The ritual symbolizes the burning away of sickness, misfortune, and impurities to make way for health, happiness, and success in the new year.
With Nowruz’s eve upon us, families luster up their Haft-Seen tables, ready to usher in the New Year with joyful hearts and homes filled with light, fragrance, and color.
The Persian New Year, Nowruz, takes place at the vernal equinox, which often occurs around March 20 or 21, based on the specific time of the equinox. Families sit around the Haft-Seen table, waiting for the moment of the equinox, for the second that marks the beginning of the New Year. When the moment arrives, prayers are said for health, prosperity, and happiness in the coming year. In many homes, reading passages from the Shahnameh, the Persian epic, or reciting verses from the Quran, representing faith and strength, is tradition.
On the first day of the Persian New Year, family and friends are visited, gifts are exchanged, and a special Nowruz meal is shared. Herbed rice with fried fish, known as sabzi polo mahi, is the traditional dish served on the day of Nowruz, symbolizing fertility and plenty. Ambrosia like baklava, noghl (sugar-coated almonds), and Shirini (various Persian pastries) are also served during these get-togethers — as sugar signifies sweetness and brings happiness in the New Year.
The Persian New Year, Nowruz, has become a global event, with countries from the Balkans to Central and South Asia celebrating the occasion. In Afghanistan, for example, Nowruz is a national holiday; celebrations can last two weeks, with music, dancing, and cultural festivals. The most notable of these is Guli Surkh, “the Red Flower Festival,” which takes place in the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif, where the local population comes together to witness the bush of red tulips blossoming on the surrounding hills.
In Tajikistan, Nowruz is celebrated through public festivals, concerts, and sports competitions (including the traditional horseback game buzkashi), as communities gather in joyous celebration. In Azerbaijan, too, at the heart of the Nowruz celebrations is khoncha — an ornate silver tray brimming with sweets, nuts, and dried fruits — all the better to showcase the themes of prosperity and abundance.
Nowruz Persian New Year is the same joy around the world where each country brings its own share of flavor into the celebration but still keeps the passion and the message of the holiday: renewal, hope, and gathering of family and friends.
The day of nature is the 13th of Nowruz and is called Sizdah Bedar, the last day of the Nowruz celebration. On this day, families gather picnic lunches and head out to spend the day in parks, gardens, and rivers. Sizdah Bedar is based on the belief which states it's best to spend the day outside of your house to avoid bad luck linked with the number 13. It also signifies a return to nature and a “thank you” for the gift of the Earth’s abundance, an important cultural theme in Persian culture.
Throwing the Sabzeh (the sprouts grown for the Haft-Seen table) into a river or stream is a main tradition of Sizdah Bedar. They say that throwing out the sprouts helps to rid oneself of any negativity or bad luck from the year before. It is also a rite of spring, a sign of new life, and a wish for good fortune in the year ahead.
Nowruz emphasizes its racial character. Many of these ancient customs, rituals, and rites have been preserved over time despite modernity into the present – a bridge to the way things used to be. Yes, Nowruz is a time for tradition; it also is a time for individual reflection and future planning, even the concept of renewal. But for many in the Persian diaspora, Nowruz is even more special.
Such a celebration is a means to link up with their cultural and historical identity as well as a way to pass the rich cultures and traditions behind the Persian New Year and the beauty of the spirit of Nowruz (the name of the coming spring in Middle Persian) to the next generations and diaspora.
Around the world, from the boulevards of Tehran to the bungalows of Los Angeles, Nowruz invites people to come together in celebration. It turns homes into spaces pulsing with laughter, music, and the comfort of family.
Nowruz, the Persian New Year, is so much more than a holiday; it’s a celebration of life, renewal, and the unending rhythm of nature. It is the perfect opportunity to celebrate rites such as preparing the Haft-Seen table, gathering family and friends, and surrounding ourselves with gratitude, hope, and togetherness. This age-old festival, which is still celebrated across the world, remains a cultural touchstone, reminding the world of the joys of its traditions.
Whether you’re marking Nowruz for the first time or you’re continuing a long-standing family tradition, the Persian New Year offers an opportunity to reflect on the past, renew for the future, and rejoice in life.
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