As flowers began to bloom and the days got longer, Iranians around the world started to prepare for their Nowruz festivities. For many, March 20 marked the first day of spring, but for those who celebrate Nowruz, it was also a holiday marking the arrival of the new year. The very moment at which the Sun crossed the celestial equator and night and day were of equal length, families gathered to spend time with their loved ones and witness the beginning of the new year.
The roots of Nowruz date back to more than three thousand years ago. King Jamshid, the fourth king of the mythological Pishdadian dynasty of Iran, was sensitive to the rhythms of the Earth. He had noticed that during long winter months, where Earth was working to heal itself from the harvest of autumn, his subjects fell into darkness and quarreled with one another. He decided to mark the beginning of Nowruz with a festival; “Shab-e-Chaharrshanbe Souri'' is celebrated by jumping over a series of fires on the last Wednesday before Nowruz. Fire was believed to be an indicator of everlasting health—so, it only made sense that jumping over them would allow one to burn the physical, emotional, and social ills of the previous year. When spring finally came and the Earth began to heal from the harsh winter, the King marked this time as the start of a new year for the people and the Earth.
Shab-e-Chaharrshanbe Souri, a bonfire event before Nowruz
The countless preparations for Nowruz actually begin weeks before the start of spring, and Sizdah bedar, thirteen days after the new year, marks the end of the festivities. Preparation includes the arrangement of the haft-sin: a spread of seven unique items beginning with the Farsi letter ‘s’ that represent renewal and springtime. Its centrepiece is the sabzeh, a sprouting plant, which symbolizes rebirth. Other communal festivities consist of bonfires, feasts, and celebrations of culture such as musical performances, poetry readings, and traditional sports.
Like every holiday, each family has slightly different traditions and celebrations. For Sentinel student Niknaz D, her extended family gathers to spend time together reading Hafez (one of the pillars of Persian poetry) and recounting fun stories. Visiting family and friends' houses is another part of their annual festivities as well. In Parsa S’s household, his family sets up haft-sin, the table arrangement with 7 different symbolic items mentioned above. Caspian kutum, a fish dish, with baghali polo, a type of rice, is a staple meal enjoyed in his dining room, which is followed by dances to classic Persian songs.
Sabzi polo ba mahi, a staple dish for Nowruz as mentioned by Parsa S.
The Divan of Hafez, a book of poems recited during Nowruz as mentioned by Niknaz D.
As generations have passed, specific traditions have begun to vary from place to place. However, the central theme has remained the same: a celebration of spring and a time for rebirth and renewal. As Parsa says, this fresh start initiates reflection and goal-setting. For Niknaz, it is also the perfect chance to “find the time to see each other either in-person or via video calls,” regardless of where each family member is situated in the world. A time of gathering, reconciliation, and peace among families and communities, Nowruz marks the precious beginning of a new year.
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