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• Introduction

History of Nowruz

Nowruz and islam, practice of nowruz.

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• Encyclopaedia Iranica - Nowruz
• UNESCO - Silk Roads Programme - Nowruz: Celebrating the New Year on the Silk Roads
• Learn Religion - Naw-Ruz - the Baha'i and Zoroastrian New Year
• Ancient Origins - Nowruz - The Persian New Year and The Spring Equinox
• Al Jazeera - What is Nowruz and how is the Persian New Year celebrated?
• Heritage Institute - Nowruz
• Table Of Contents

Nowruz , festival celebrating the start of the new year on the Persian calendar. Nowruz, meaning “new day” in Persian (or Fārsī), occurs on the spring equinox , which is the first day of the month of Farvardīn on the Iranian calendar . The holiday usually falls on March 21 on the Gregorian calendar . The United Nations has declared March 21 as International Nowruz Day. Nowruz began as part of the ancient Zoroastrian religion and continues as a significant though largely secular festival in Iran and in many countries with significant Persian cultural influence, including Iraq , India , Afghanistan , and much of Central Asia , as well as among the global Persianate diaspora .

Although it is probable that Nowruz existed as a festival in Zoroastrianism from its inception in the late second or early first millennium bce , it is not mentioned in any early Zoroastrian texts. During the Achaemenian dynasty (c. 559–330 bce ), the Greek scholar Xenophon (c. 430–350 bce ) describes what very well may have been a Nowruz festival celebrated by Cyrus the Great taking place at the ancient Persian capital Persepolis . However, the connection of the ceremony to Nowruz is debated in current scholarship. There are bas- reliefs on the walls at Persepolis that, some scholars suggest, depict tributes to the king as part of a Nowruz festival, but other scholars contend that this interpretation of the reliefs is a much later explanation. The festival first appears described in written Persian texts of the first centuries ce during the Parthian empire under the Arsacid dynasty (247 bce –224 ce ) and continued to be celebrated during the Sasanian era (224–651 ce ), under which Zoroastrianism became the state religion. In the Pahlavi texts of the Sasanian era we find the first direct mention of the festival as “ nōg rōz .”

Although the earliest sources provide little detail, Nowruz within Zoroastrianism relates to the vernal equinox and the beginning of spring. It is tied closely with Rapithwin , the personification of summer and noon, who retreats during the winter and returns with spring at noon on Nowruz. The oscillation between winter and summer resonates with the Zoroastrian dualistic moral cosmology that posits a battle between good and evil. The festival’s joyful commemoration of the return of spring might also connect with Zoroastrian eschatology , which foretells of an eventual apocalypse resulting in a return to an original divine state of peace and bliss. Today, among the Parsi Zoroastrian community in western India , the holiday is a time of spiritual renewal.

One oft-cited account of the founding of Nowruz is told in the Shāh-nāmeh (Persian: “Book of Kings”), the epic poem of Persia compiled in 1010 by the poet Ferdowsī (c. 935–c. 1020–26 ce ). According to the Shāh-nāmeh , Nowruz was initiated by King Jamshīd ( Yima in Avestan texts of Zoroastrianism). After creating civilization and ruling over a prosperous kingdom, Jamshīd decided to celebrate his accomplishments, created a bejeweled throne that rose into the sky, and declared that day the “new ( nō ) day ( rūz ).”

After the Arab Muslim conquest of Sasanian Persia in 633–51 ce , despite the sidelining of Zoroastrian political control with the rise of Islam in the region, Nowruz persisted as a key civil holiday among the local Persian population to mark the new year. It continued to be celebrated during the Persianate Samanid and Buyid Islamic dynasties as well as later Turkic and Mongol dynasties that ruled the region and spread the festival throughout Central Asia. Muslim scholars described the practice of Nowruz in detail, such as in a text by polymath and early scholar of religion al-Bīrūnī (973–c. 1052) and in a work ascribed to poet and scientist Omar Khayyam (1048–1131).

Since the festival originated within Zoroastrianism, Muslim writers have occasionally repudiated Nowruz, but it has nevertheless survived and thrived and has been overlaid with Islamic meanings. Initially, some Muslim caliphs and theologians specifically forbade the festive practice of Nowruz. However, other Muslim writers legitimized the practice, and hadiths (sayings or stories of the Prophet Muhammad ) were recorded claiming that Muhammad accepted a Nowruz gift and blessed the day. Another hadith, attributed to the sixth imam of the Shiʿi tradition, Jaʿfar al-Ṣādiq , describes Nowruz as the day God made the sun rise, wind blow, and earth flourish; the day God made a covenant with humanity to worship none but God; and the day Noah ’s ark came ashore. The text further considers Nowruz to be the day God sent the angel Gabriel to the Prophet Muhammad, the day Muhammad destroyed the idols of Mecca , and the day God will resurrect the dead. As a result of this legitimation in Islamic tradition, Nowruz has become an important holiday among Shiʿi Muslims, including Twelver Shiʿi , Ismāʿīlīs , and ʿAlawites .

Trade routes such as the Silk Road and the expansions of various Muslim empires spread the tradition of Nowruz far and wide. It came into India not only with the Parsis , Zoroastrians who arrived sometime between the 8th and 10th centuries ce , but also with the Muslim conquest of the Indian subcontinent from the 12th century ce . Nowruz was especially significant for the Mughal dynasty rulers such as Akbar and his son Jahangir , who made the festival a prominent part of their ritual practice. Observance of Nowruz by Muslims expanded the holiday to locales as far west as Albania , among the Bektashi Sufi Muslim order, and as far east as China among the Uyghurs .

In more recent times, since the Iranian Revolution of 1979, the supreme leaders and clerics of Iran have sought to discourage the observance of traditional Nowruz celebrations on account of their non-Islamic Zoroastrian roots. However, Iranians continue to cherish the traditions, and the government, unable to weaken their fervor, issues yearly public Nowruz statements and permits public celebrations. For some Iranians the practice of Nowruz has come to signify a resistance to religious leadership in Iran. In Afghanistan the ruling Taliban have attempted to ban the observance of Nowruz since they consider the practice un-Islamic, though it continues to be celebrated in clandestine ways.

Under the Soviet Union , Nowruz was thought to be religious, specifically Islamic, and was therefore banned in Central Asian regions of the U.S.S.R. under the anti-religious policies of the communist state. After the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991 , Nowruz now is publicly observed in Azerbaijan , Kazakhstan , Kyrgyzstan , Tajikistan , Turkmenistan , and Uzbekistan according to local customs.

Nowruz traditions have varied widely throughout its long history and wide geographical spread. In some of the earliest written descriptions by Muslim observers, the spring festival was one of merriment, sweets, music, the sprinkling of water, gifts, fine clothes, and colored eggs. It was observed by royalty with feasting, music, and poetry.

In current practice, there are some notable common themes. The festival occasions a lengthy break from school and work while practitioners clean their homes and visit relatives. The Tuesday evening preceding Nowruz, Chahārshanbeh Sūrī (Scarlet Wednesday), prepares the way for the new year and features rituals such as jumping over bonfires. Communal festivities include feasts and celebrations of culture such as musical performances, poetry readings, and traditional sports and dances. In Iran the arrival of Nowruz is heralded by the marching in the streets of actors dressed up as the troubadour Ḥājī Fīrūz, who is covered in soot and clad in red, as well as the traditional character Amu Nowruz (Uncle Nowruz), an older gentleman who brings children gifts and reunites with his beloved wife, Nane Sarma (Lady Frost), on Nowruz. The festival is followed on the 13th day of Farvardīn by Sīzdah Bedar (“getting rid of 13” or “13 outdoors”), which marks the end of the new year holiday festivities and is celebrated with outdoor picnics.

A central feature of Nowruz observance, especially in Iran, is the haft-sīn , or “seven s’s,” called so because of the seven items beginning with the Persian letter s that are arranged on a special cloth ( sofreh ) on a table. These seven items are often accompanied by additional objects that start with s and others that have symbolic importance. The items on the haft-sīn represent renewal and springtime. Its centerpiece is the sabzeh , a sprouting plant that symbolizes rebirth. The items on display generally include:

• sabzeh : sprouted wheatgrass, a symbol of growth
• samanū : wheat pudding, a symbol of strength
• senjed : dry lotus tree fruit, a symbol of love
• serkeh : vinegar , a symbol of age and patience
• sīb : apple, a symbol of beauty
• sīr : garlic , a symbol of health
• somāq : sumac berries, a symbol of sunrise
• sāʿat : clock, a symbol of time
• sekkeh : coins, a symbol of prosperity
• sonbol : hyacinth , a symbol of spring
• book: a symbol of wisdom
• candle: a symbol of enlightenment
• eggs: a symbol of fertility
• goldfish: a symbol of progress
• mirror: a symbol of self-reflection

The specific book featured on the haft-sīn spread depends on the religious community observing Nowruz, since it has largely become a cultural festival to which each community brings its own meaning. The featured book could be the Qurʾān , Shāh-nāmeh , or Dīvān of Ḥāfeẓ among Muslims; the Avesta among Zoroastrians; the Bible among Christians; a Torah or siddur (Jewish prayer book) among Iran’s Jewish population; or the Kitāb-i-aqdas among Bahāʾī followers.

According to scholars, the display of the haft-sīn table is possibly quite novel, beginning in its current form in the past century or two, although the items likely have deeper associations with the holiday. It is primarily an Iranian practice and is not a part of Kurdish, Afghan , or Tajik observance of Nowruz. The modern haft-sīn , while not historically part of their observance, has become a feature of Zoroastrian festivities more recently.

The Zoroastrian Parsis in India celebrate Nowruz twice a year. It is observed in March, as Jamshedi Navroz, primarily due to modern interactions with Iranians and Zoroastrian history in Iran. Parsi liturgical calendars which do not take into account leap years have resulted in a drift of the date of the religious holiday. In the 21st century some Parsis celebrate Nowruz in August, while others do so in July. The date discrepancy is due to debates about a leap month. One group follows a calendar that added leap month in the 12th century ce , but Zoroastrians in Iran, and some Parsis in India who later followed their lead, did not add a leap month at that time, resulting in their celebration of Nowruz in July. Among the Parsis, the day before Nowruz is called Pateti and is a day of repentance. Some Parsis refer to the Nowruz itself as Pateti. Nowruz for Parsis is a celebration that warrants the performance of five prescribed liturgies: the Āfringān , prayers of love or praise; the Bāj , prayers honoring yazata s (“ones worthy of worship”) or fravashi s (“preexistent souls”); the Yasna , a rite that includes the offering and ritual drinking of the sacred liquor haoma ; the Fravartigan, or Farokhshi, prayers commemorating the dead; and the Satum , prayers recited at funeral feasts. Throughout the day, Parsis greet one another with the rite of hamāzor , in which one’s right hand is passed between the palms of another. Words of greeting and good wishes are then exchanged.

The Kurds , who reside across Iraq , Iran , Turkey , Syria , and Armenia , have also long observed Nowruz. They light bonfires the night just before the holiday. Their tale of the holiday’s origin is rooted in Zoroastrian mythology as recounted in the Shāh-nāmeh , but they do not cite the typical Nowruz origin story associated with the prosperity of Jamshīd. The Kurdish account instead ascribes the significance of the day to the defeat of the tyrannical ruler Ẓaḥḥāk by the ancient blacksmith Kāveh. Thus the holiday for Kurds celebrates victory over oppression. In recent decades the Kurdish celebration of Nowruz has come to signify not just the new year but also their desire for an independent Kurdistan .

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Nowruz – Persian New Year

By: History.com Editors

Published: March 19, 2024

Nowruz is a holiday marking the Persian New Year and the first day of spring. Originating more than 3,000 years ago, the 13-day festival symbolizes renewal and harmony with nature. It begins at the exact moment of the Northern Hemisphere’s vernal equinox , typically between March 19 and 22. 

This secular event is recognized by UNESCO , and the United Nations designated March 21 as the International Day of Nowruz . The holiday’s spellings , which also include Norouz, Navruz, Nooruz, No-Ruz and Nauryz, vary depending on the language.

“In these times of great challenge, Nowruz promotes dialogue, good neighborliness and reconciliation,” UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stated.

Origins and Background

Rooted in Zoroastrianism , an ancient monotheistic religion, Nowruz festivities are celebrated in countries with significant Persian cultural influence, including Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Turkey and Kazakhstan. 

Historical accounts suggest that Nowruz celebrations occurred in ancient Persepolis during the Achaemenid Empire (550-330 B.C.). Mythology centered on its inception includes tales of a Persian king soaring across the skies in a jeweled chariot on the first day of spring. 

Across regions, events during Nowruz, which translates to “new day” in English, vary according to customs, but they share common themes of rebirth, new beginnings and the celebration of nature. 

“Nowruz has a lot of symbolism around renewal—renewal of nature, renewal of relationships,” Shadi Mokharti, a professor at American University in Washington, D.C., tells the School of International Service . “It is usually the highlight of the year for most Iranians.”

Traditions and Customs

To symbolize the new year's fresh start, celebrants often engage in spring cleaning, or “khaneh tekani,” gift exchanges, family gatherings, buying new clothes and more. Children often enjoy a break from school during this time. 

“All houses undergo a big cleaning,” Zohreh Mirsharif, a world languages and cultures professor at American University, adds. “People will change the colors of the walls; they will wash everything. This is the new beginning.”

One common pre-festival ritual involves leaping over fire and streams to cleanse the past year’s negativity. “Many households also replenish their water supplies on the last Wednesday of the year,” UNESCO notes . 

7 Items on the Haft-Sin Table

Another notable Iranian tradition is the gathering of families around the ceremonial Half-Sin table, which displays seven items beginning with the Persian letter “sin,” each holding special symbolism. The table includes apples (seeb) for beauty, garlic (seer) for health, vinegar (serkeh) for patience, hyacinth (sonbol) for spring, sweet pudding (samanu) for fertility, sprouts (sabzeh) for rebirth and coins (sekeh) for wealth.

On the 13th day of Nowruz, some countries observe sizdah bedar, a custom that involves picnicking outside to ward off bad luck. “Since the 13th is an unlucky day, entire families go on picnics and take with them the sprouts (sabzeh) from the haftseen table,” NPR reports .

The sprouts, or sabzeh, is wheat, barley, lentil or other sprout grown in a pot. It’s believed that the sabzeh absorbs the previous year's pain and trouble and throwing it into water at the end of the festival symbolizes a letting go of those misfortunes with the new year.

In Afghanistan, a date-based dessert called haft mewa is served, and buzkashi, a polo-like sport played with a goat carcass as a ball, is played. In Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, revelers share a sweet dish called sumalak from communal pots. 

“What to Know About Nowruz, a 3,000-Year-Old Festival Celebrated by Millions Worldwide,” Time “International Nowruz Day, 21 March,” United Nations “Nowruz, A gathering of people with a common heritage along the Silk Roads,” UNESCO “Nowruz: Persian New Year's Table Celebrates Spring Deliciously,” NPR “Happy Nowruz! Five Facts About the Persian New Year,” American University

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International Day of Nowruz

Nowruz, meaning “new day”, is an ancestral festivity marking the first day of spring and the renewal of nature. It includes rituals, ceremonies and cultural events, as well as the enjoyment of a special meal with loved ones. New clothes are worn, visits are made to family and friends, and gifts, especially for children, are exchanged.

Celebrated for over 3000 years in the Balkans, the Black Sea Basin, the Caucasus, Central Asia, the Middle East and other regions, it promotes values of peace and solidarity between generations and within families as well as reconciliation and neighborliness.

As it contributes to cultural diversity and friendship among peoples and different communities, Nowruz fits closely with UNESCO’s mandate.

In particular with relation to the  2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage , Nowruz was inscribed as an element in 2009, and extended in 2016, on the Representative List of the  Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity,  at the joint initiative of Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, India, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

In 2010, the “International Day of Nowruz” was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in its  resolution A/RES/64/253 . This Resolution welcomes the efforts of Member States where Nowruz is celebrated to preserve and develop the culture and traditions related to Nowruz, and encourages Member States to make efforts to raise awareness about Nowruz and to organize annual events in commemoration of this festivity.

"Nauryz, Navruz, Nawrouz, Nevruz, Nooruz, Novruz, Nowrouz, Nowruz – this celebration of the arrival of spring is as rich in names as it is in traditions. No matter what name you call it by, this shared festivity has brought communities together across countries and regions for more than 3,000 years"

What UNESCO does

• Multilingual

What to Know About Nowruz, a 3,000-Year-Old Festival Celebrated by Millions Worldwide

S ome 300 million people around the world are starting their annual celebration of renewal and harmony with nature in what is to them the biggest cultural holiday of the year, typically involving 13 days of rituals.

Nowruz (alternatively spelled Nauruz, Nauryz, Navruz, Nevruz, Nooruz, Norooz, Norouz, or Novruz), also known as Persian New Year (Nowruz means “new day” in Persian), is celebrated across ethnic groups with a common Silk Roads heritage , including Afghanistan, India, Iran, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, and Turkey, as well as their diaspora in other countries.

The excitement for Nowruz was captured on Tuesday’s Google Doodle , which appeared on the site in more than a dozen countries, including Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, the United Kingdom, and the United States. (Access to Google is restricted in Iran.)

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Pendar Yousefi (@legomahi)

The colorful scene, featuring animals playing instruments, was created by Iranian artist and Google Design Director Pendar Yousefi, who said the doodle draws inspiration from what he described as his “happy childhood memories of Nowruz.”

Here’s what to know about Nowruz: 

When is Nowruz?

Nowruz, which marks the first day of spring, is celebrated at the time—down to the second—of the vernal equinox , the point at which the sun is equally aligned over the Northern and Southern hemispheres, based on the earth’s rotation and tilt.

When exactly Nowruz begins thus varies across countries, depending on time zones. This year, it takes place at 26 seconds past 6.36 a.m., March 20, in Tehran, Iran (11:06 p.m., March 19, EDT). In India, Nowruz is celebrated on two days, this year on March 20 and August 15, based on calculations according to two different calendars.

The United Nations declared March 21, when the vernal equinox usually occurs, to be the International Day of Nowruz in a 2010 resolution.

What are its origins?

Exactly when Nowruz began as a festival is unclear, though many believe it to date back around 3,000 years ago, with roots in Zoroastrianism , one of the world’s oldest monotheistic religions. Ancient texts suggest that Nowruz was celebrated in the ancient city of Persepolis, the ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid Empire which lasted from 550 to 330 BC.

There are several legends surrounding the origins of Nowruz that spotlight a particular heroic figure. In one, Jamshid, a mythical Persian king, soared into the skies on a chariot on the first day of spring, bringing such a majestic sight to onlookers on the ground that they started commemorating the day of that ride. Another version says that Jamshid was commanded by a Zoroastrian deity to battle his twin brother, Ahriman, who represented darkness and death and had brought calamities. Jamshid defeated Ahriman—a triumph of good over evil—bringing prosperity to the place he ruled.

How is Nowruz celebrated today?

People typically spend weeks preparing for Nowruz, mostly by spring cleaning. During the festival, family visits and communal meals are common, along with gift exchanges. 

There are also ways of celebrating that differ by country. In Afghanistan , people eat haft mewa , a dessert with syrup-soaked dried fruits, and play the national sport of buzkashi , which sees horse-riding players try to wrest control of a headless goat carcass.

In Azerbaijan, where Nowruz was once prohibited by the Soviet regime and celebrated in secret, rituals are held on four Tuesdays—each involving a different element: water, fire, earth, and wind—before the official start of Nowruz, heralding the beginning of spring.

In Iran, every celebrating family puts together a haft-seen , a table of items with symbolic, auspicious meanings, which include dried fruit, apples, garlic, vinegar, and sprouts that can grow through the festival as a sign of rebirth . The sprouts, or Sabze , are typically released into running water in nature on the last day of Nowruz.

How Nowruz is changing

Amid economic troubles and steep inflation, Nowruz celebrations in Iran in recent years have been marked by greater austerity . And as political tensions persist between hardline authorities and liberal youth in Iran, annual public dances celebrating Nowruz have become a symbol of defiance in a country where women dancing with men is frowned upon by conservatives.

Nowruz celebrants have also become increasingly concerned about climate change affecting the ancient festival, which is rooted in an appreciation and connection with nature. “Everywhere you look there are rising temperatures, lack of water, the depletion of natural species,” Persis Karim, director of the Center for Iranian Diaspora Studies at San Francisco State University, told the BBC this month. “Nowruz is now in some ways under threat, and it could be linked to an understanding about the vulnerability of our planet and our participation in that vulnerability.” 

Despite, and even perhaps more importantly because of, the contemporary challenges the holiday faces, Nowruz has been increasingly recognized across the world. In 2009, Nowruz was inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

“At a time when violent extremism seeks to destroy diversity and freedoms,” then Director-General of UNESCO Irina Bokova said during Nowruz in 2017, “Nowruz is a reminder of the power of culture and heritage to build resilient and sustainable societies.”

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Persian New Year, or Nowruz, explained

The holiday of spring and renewal, celebrated by millions of people worldwide, dates back thousands of years.

by Caroline Framke

In Iran, the idea of “spring cleaning” isn’t just a seasonal excuse to gut your closet; it’s the basis of a national holiday dating back millennia.

Every year, millions celebrate Persian New Year, or Nowruz (prounced “no- rooz ”). In Iran, the new year begins with the advent of spring, and most everyone in the country — not to mention the millions of Iranians and non-Iranians who celebrate the holiday elsewhere around the world — observe it by doing a deep clean of their homes, celebrating a season of new life, and wishing for good luck in the year ahead.

You might have heard about Nowruz peripherally. The United Nations formally recognized it as an international holiday in 2010; President Obama extended Nowruz greetings to observers every year of his administration since 2009 (although they often doubled as statements on the relationship between the United States and Iran). Then-first lady Michelle Obama even held a Persian New Year celebration at the White House in 2015, complete with the Obama family’s own haft-seen (more on what a haft-seen is later).

If you didn’t grow up celebrating Nowruz like I did, though, the concept might be confusing — actually, it was even a little confusing for me, since my childhood memories of Persian New Year mostly concerned salivating over the delicious rice dish my mother would make in its honor.

But once I started to learn more about what Nowruz means outside of food — which, to be fair, is an important part of most holidays on this planet — I realized how fascinating its layered traditions really are.

What is Nowruz?

Nowruz marks the end of the old year and the beginning of a new one, and it occurs on the day of the vernal equinox.

More accurately, the new year begins the second the equinox does — so, not just at the stroke of midnight. Usually, the equinox happens from March 19 to 21; this year, Nowruz lands in the evening of March 20. (Though if you’re an expat Iranian, the equinox arrives around 12 pm Eastern.) But there are also aspects of Nowruz that permeate Persian culture for weeks leading up to the holiday and even a couple of weeks afterward.

No one knows exactly how far back Nowruz dates. The best estimates sit somewhere in the range of 3,000 years. But the most important thing to know about Nowruz’s origin story is that it’s rooted in Zoroastrianism, an ancient Persian religion that predates both Christianity and Islam. (Since Zoroastrianism dates back thousands of years, it’s hardly confined to within the borders of Iran or the many versions of the Persian Empire there have been — which is why Nowruz is also celebrated by millions of non-Iranians around the world.)

When the 1979 revolution ended with Persia becoming the Islamic Republic of Iran, the new government tried to scale back the level to which Nowruz is celebrated, citing the holiday’s pre-Islamic roots as grounds for its removal. But even in a nation that was fragmented to the point of revolt, the prospect of losing Nowruz prompted furious pushback that was too overwhelming to brush aside.

After thousands of years in the making, Nowruz remains too beloved, universal, and deeply embedded in Persian culture to ignore.

And because the holiday has been around for so long, it suffers no shortage of related traditions. But there are nevertheless a few basic, foundational tenets that nearly everyone who celebrates Nowruz — in Iran and elsewhere — upholds.

How do you prepare for Nowruz?

People start getting ready for Nowruz about three weeks before the actual vernal equinox. Pretty much everyone goes into serious spring-cleaning mode, ridding their homes of any unnecessary clutter and lingering grime that’s settled in over the past year so they can start fresh. At this time of year in Iran, you’re likely to see countless Persian rugs hanging outside, where their owners can beat the dust out of them.

In these same weeks leading up to the actual day, families also set aside a space for a “haft-seen,” or a collection of items that symbolize a different hope for the new year. While some families add their own variations to the haft-seen (more on those in a bit), there are seven things that are always included:

• Sabzeh: Some kind of sprout or grass that will continue to grow in the weeks leading up to the holiday, for rebirth and renewal
• Senjed: Dried fruit, ideally a sweet fruit from a lotus tree, for love
• Sib: Apples, for beauty and health
• Seer: Garlic, for medicine and taking care of oneself
• Samanu: A sweet pudding, for wealth and fertility
• Serkeh: Vinegar, for the patience and wisdom that comes with aging
• Sumac: A Persian spice made from crushed sour red berries, for the sunrise of a new day

While these seven S items are the foundation of a haft-seen (which literally means “seven S’s”), the tradition has evolved to the point where there are several other things you can include. For example, when I was growing up, my family’s haft-seens always included a mirror symbolizing reflection, colored eggs for fertility, coins for prosperity, and, if we were feeling ambitious, a live goldfish for new life (an ironic association in my house, where pretty much every goldfish we brought home died immediately).

Once you have the seven cornerstones set, the haft-seen is yours to customize. Muslim families will sometimes include a Quran. Sometimes a place of honor will go to a volume of poetry by Hafez, one of Iran’s most beloved poets.

Once the day of Nowruz arrives, it kicks off a 13-day celebration of dinners, family visits, and reflections on the year ahead. On the 13th day, you take the sabzeh that’s been growing in the haft-seen to whatever natural body of running water you can find and let it float away, to release the old and usher in the New Year.

My mother, who grew up in Tehran, told me that Nowruz usually saw everyone piling their sabzeh into their cars to head off into the mountains, the better to find a water runoff to set their greens adrift. And even though that meant braving a traffic jam like none other, everyone did it.

But Nowruz isn’t all about cleaning and plant life; other rituals involve fire, money, and — stay with me — banging on pots with spoons

Though my family always assembled a Nowruz haft-seen, I grew up in New Jersey without many other Iranians around, so we couldn’t indulge in some of the more communal traditions — which is a shame, because they sound fun .

The last Tuesday before Norwuz is known as shab-e chahar shanbeh suri (a loose translation from Persian into phonetic English), or “Eve of Red Wednesday.” The day involves building public bonfires, jumping over them, and repeating a single phrase: “Zardi-ye man az toh, sorkhi-ye toh az man!” This roughly translates to, “Give me your beautiful red color, and take back my sickly pallor!”

The idea, in keeping with Nowruz’s overarching theme of renewal, is to cleanse away the past year so you can start the new one refreshed and renewed.

Children and elders make out especially well during Nowruz. At the beginning of the 13-day celebration, families will gather at the home of their oldest family member to pay their respects. Children will walk up to houses with cooking pots in hand, bang on those pots with spoons, and not let up until someone comes out and puts something sweet in the pots. (Like an Iranian version of Halloween, except you don’t have to dress up as a vampire to get your candy; you just demand what’s yours.)

Finally, children will receive monetary gifts in the form of fresh banknotes from their parents and other adult family members — again, in keeping with the overarching theme of getting a fresh start.

Okay, it’s all about freshness and renewal. But what about the food?!

Ohh, reader. Let’s talk about food .

If you’re not familiar with Persian cuisine, the very basics are that if you’re invited to an Iranian home for dinner you’ll likely be served some combination of grilled or braised meats and rich stews, flavored by deeply aromatic spices (though not many of them pack much heat) and accompanied by piles upon piles of steamed rice. (Persian rice is the best rice, and I will hear no arguments to the contrary.) For more on Persian food and ceremonies, you can check out Najmieh Batmanglij’s beautiful, thorough cookbook Food of Life .

On the actual day of Nowruz, though, you can expect to see a couple of dishes that are specific to the holiday, often centering on greens and herbs to represent its themes of — say it with me now — freshness and renewal.

The centerpiece of most Nowruz meals will be sabzi polow ba mahi, an herbed rice served with some kind of whitefish. Then you might have a kuku sabzi , which bakes eggs with a whole mess of herbs like dill, cilantro, parsley, fenugreek, tarragon, and more. (My mother helpfully describes kuku sabzi as “an ancient relative of the frittata.”)

No matter what, though, Iranians will always make you more food than you know what to do with — and at the end of the meal, you’ll still wish you could still eat more.

Above all, Nowruz is a celebration of the possibility of new life

As is fitting for Persian and Zoroastrian culture, the ceremonies surrounding Nowruz center on community, family, and a deep respect for tradition.

But Nowruz is less about a single day than a general celebration of being able to wipe away the dust, grime, and sadness of the old in order to start anew. It’s about closing the door on one chapter and turning the page to the next one with excitement instead of trepidation. It’s about the endless possibilities that come with a blank slate.

The hope of being able to start new, and better, is about as universal as they come — which might explain why Nowruz hasn’t just survived through generation upon generation of tumult and prosperity alike, but thrived.

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The story of the Iranian new year, Nowruz, and why its themes of renewal and healing matter

Dean of Social Sciences, Arizona State University

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As the days grow longer and the flowers start to bloom, my 7-year-old gets excited and exclaims, “Nowruz is coming.”

Nowruz – or “new day” in English – is the Iranian new year. Celebrated at the exact moment of the spring equinox, this is a secular festival with roots that go back over 3,000 years. It was shaped by people of the Zoroastrian faith , believed to be the world’s oldest religion.

An Iranian American anthropologist , I have spent much of my life studying my ancestral culture. Festivals like Nowruz have helped me and my children connect with the Earth and our traditions – and much more now than ever before.

The story of Nowruz

The celebration of Nowruz dates back to at least the 11th century A.D. In the Shahnameh – or “Book of Kings” – a text that dates to the first century, the story of King Jamshid is told as part of the Nowruz origin story.

King Jamshid, the fourth king in an imagined dynasty, is introduced as the kindest and most knowledgeable ruler of Persia, the region that stretched from what is modern Turkey to Pakistan. Jamshid is referred to in Zoroastrian texts from the first century as well.

The Shahnameh tells the story of a king who was very sensitive not only to his subjects but also to the rhythms of the Earth. King Jamshid noticed that during the long, dark winter months, his subjects descended into darkness as the Earth worked to heal itself from the harvests of the fall.

When spring finally came and the Earth began to blossom after the healing period of winter, the king wanted to mark that as the start of the new year – a time of new beginnings for people and the Earth.

But King Jamshid also noticed that during those dark winter months, many of his subjects had started to quarrel with one another, and injustice threatened to take over. The king decided to mark the beginning of Nowruz with a festival called Shab-e-Charshanbeh Souri , which translates as “Scarlet Wednesday.”

The festival involves jumping over a series of fires – a tradition brought by the Zoroastrians, who celebrated fire as the sign of everlasting strength and health. The idea behind Charshanbeh-Souri is to jump over the fires to cleanse oneself of the ills – physical, emotional and societal – of the past year. It is a way to prepare for the rebirth that Nowruz brings. It is also a time of forgiveness. Joining hands to jump over the fire is a way to heal rifts that are threatening to fracture families all over the world.

Themes of Nowruz

This festival is still marked by millions of people throughout West and Central Asia as the start of a new year. Today it’s celebrated a few nights before the spring equinox, according to the solar calendar. It is a time of forgiveness and a time to heal .

When individuals and families jump over the fire, they ask the fire to take their sickness and all the unhappiness of the past year. They also ask the fire to give them strength and health .

The tradition also urges individuals to make amends with those they believe have wronged them in the past. They also seek forgiveness for their own wrongs. This is symbolized by celebrators joining their hands as they jump over the fire together.

The day after Charshanbeh-Souri, families begin preparing their homes for Nowruz . They set a table called the haft-seen – translating to “seven S’s.” At the center of the table are seven items that begin with the letter S, each holding a particular significance.

Seeb (apple) is the symbol of beauty, seer (garlic) is the symbol of health and medicine, somagh (sumac) represents sunrise, sabzeh (green grass) represents healing and rebirth of the Earth, serkeh (vinegar) symbolizes patience, senjed (olives) signals love and, finally, samanu (pastry paste) is about the power and strength of forgiveness .

At the center of the table, a mirror is placed for reflection, flowers to symbolize the Earth’s healing, eggs to symbolize life and a live fish to represent one’s connection to the animal world. Some families place a religious book at the table, such as the Quran, Bible or Avista; others place books by favorite Iranian poets such as Hafez or Rumi.

[ You’re smart and curious about the world. So are The Conversation’s authors and editors. You can get our highlights each weekend .]

Celebrating Nowruz this year

The themes of health, justice and respect for the Earth seem to be more relevant to the entire world this year than ever before.

As the pandemic spread across the world, it exposed inequalities. Studies found that Black Americans were three times more likely than whites to get COVID-19, as a result of many racial inequalities. Following the death of George Floyd in May 2020, thousands of Americans took to the streets to protest about racism .

At the same time, many news reports noted how the Earth was healing as people stayed indoors. Global warming has led to climate change, which in turn has caused catastrophic changes in many parts of the world . With many of the festivities coming back as people get COVID-19 vaccines, the self-reflection and inner bonding with the Earth will be part of the celebrations of Nowruz this year.

I believe that this year more than ever before, it is important to reflect on how we can be a part of a rebirth focused on justice that our world so desperately needs.

• Climate change
• Forgiveness
• Black Lives Matter

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In these times of great challenge, Nowruz promotes dialogue, good neighborliness and reconciliation. UN Secretary-General António Guterres

What is Nowruz and why do we celebrate it?

The word Nowruz (Novruz, Navruz, Nooruz, Nevruz, Nauryz), means new day; its spelling and pronunciation may vary by country.

Nowruz marks the first day of spring and is celebrated on the day of the astronomical vernal equinox, which usually occurs on 21 March. It is celebrated as the beginning of the new year by more than 300 million people all around the world and has been celebrated for over 3,000 years in the Balkans, the Black Sea Basin, the Caucasus, Central Asia, the Middle East and other regions.

Inscribed in 2009 on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity as a cultural tradition observed by numerous peoples, Nowruz is an ancestral festivity marking the first day of spring and the renewal of nature. It promotes values of peace and solidarity between generations and within families as well as reconciliation and neighbourliness, thus contributing to cultural diversity and friendship among peoples and different communities.

Nowruz plays a significant role in strengthening the ties among peoples based on mutual respect and the ideals of peace and good neighbourliness. Its traditions and rituals reflect the cultural and ancient customs of the civilizations of the East and West, which influenced those civilizations through the interchange of human values.

Celebrating Nowruz means the affirmation of life in harmony with nature, awareness of the inseparable link between constructive labour and natural cycles of renewal and a solicitous and respectful attitude towards natural sources of life.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres's message for 2024

Nowruz marks new beginnings. A "new day". A new year. The arrival of spring and rebirth of nature.

For more than 300 million people around the world, it is a time for family and friends to come together, reflect on the past and look forward to a brighter future.

Nowruz is also a celebration of humanity’s rich cultural heritage and diversity. And a chance – for all of us – to be guided by its values of peace, dialogue and solidarity:

• To reaffirm our commitment to human rights and dignity;
• To promote mutual respect and reconciliation;
• To protect the planet and live in harmony with nature.

As we celebrate Nowruz, let us choose hope and compassion, embrace the opportunities that lie ahead, and work together to building a more peaceful, more sustainable and more inclusive world for all.

May this Nowruz bring you joy, good health and prosperity.

International Nowruz Day was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly, in its resolution A/RES/64/253 of 2010, at the initiative of several countries that share this holiday. Under the agenda item of “culture of peace”, the member states of Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Albania, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkey and Turkmenistan prepared and introduced a draft resolution ( A/64/L.30 ) entitled "International Day of Nowruz" to the ongoing 64th session of the General Assembly of the United Nations for its consideration and adoption.

In the 71st plenary meeting on 23 February 2010, The General Assembly welcomed the inclusion of Nowruz in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization on 30 September 2009.

It also recognized 21 March as the International Day of Nowruz, and invited interested Member States, the United Nations, in particular its relevant specialized agencies, funds and programmes, and mainly the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, and interested international and regional organizations, as well as non-governmental organizations, to participate in events organized by States where Nowruz is celebrated.

In these times of great challenge, Nowruz promotes dialogue, good neighborliness and reconciliation.” UN Secretary-General António Guterres

• UN Secretary-General's Message
• Message from Ms. Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO
• GA Resolution declaring the day A/RES/64/253
• UNESCO Intangible Heritage listing
• Astana Declaration (A/63/512)
• Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage
• Declaration of Athens – The heritage of ancient civilizations: Implications for the modern world (A/54/60)
• Declaration for Promoting Dialogue and Mutual Understanding among Religions and Civilizations (A/62/553)
• Declaration of the Principles of International Cultural Cooperation
• GA resolution recognizing 21 March as the International Day of Nowruz (A/RES/64/253)
• Global Agenda for Dialogue among Civilization (A/RES/56/6)
• Outcome document of Phnom Penh Dialogue 2008 on Interfaith Cooperation for Peace and Harmony (A/62/949)
• Perth Declaration (A/64/543)
• Tehran Declaration on Dialogue among Civilizations (A/54/116)
• The 2005 World Summit Outcome
• The Madrid Declaration issued by the World Conference on Dialogue (A/63/499)
• Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity
• UN Alliance of Civilizations

Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Nowruz was inscribed in 2016 on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity . New Year is often a time when people wish for prosperity and new beginnings. An important tradition practised during this time is the gathering around ‘the Table’, decorated with objects that symbolize purity, brightness, livelihood and wealth, to enjoy a special meal with loved ones. Gifts are exchanged, especially for children, featuring objects made by artisans. There are also street performances of music and dance, public rituals involving water and fire, traditional sports and the making of handicrafts. 

Related Observances

• International Day of Living Together in Peace  
• World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development  
• International Day of the Celebration of the Solstice  
• International Day of Yoga  
• International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples  
• International Day of Non-Violence   
• International Day for Tolerance  

Why do we mark International Days?

International days and weeks are occasions to educate the public on issues of concern, to mobilize political will and resources to address global problems, and to celebrate and reinforce achievements of humanity. The existence of international days predates the establishment of the United Nations, but the UN has embraced them as a powerful advocacy tool. We also mark other UN observances .

Nowruz: The Rebirth of Nature

Nowruz is a rite which dates back to at least the 6th century BCE that marks the new year, ushers in spring, and celebrates the rebirth of nature. Variously known as  Novruz ,  Nowrouz ,  Nooruz ,  Navruz ,  Nauroz  or  Nevruz , this historic celebration is observed on the 20th or 21st of March in many countries along the Silk Roads, including Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, India, Iran, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

The name of this cross-cultural custom means  No  -  ‘new’, and  rouz -  ‘day’ in Persian. It celebrates new beginnings and the return of spring which is of great spiritual significance as it symbolises the triumph of good over evil, and joy over sorrow. Nowruz includes rituals, ceremonies and cultural events, as well as the enjoyment of a special meal with loved ones.

Marking one of the holiest days of the ancient Zoroastrian calendar, Nowruz is an annual event that honours the shared heritage of the Silk Roads, its traditions, and culture, associated with the birth of spring. Nowruz is celebrated by people from different religious and cultural backgrounds, and its customs have been passed down from generation to generation along the Silk Roads. Over time, Nowruz has developed and expanded, incorporating new social, religious, and cultural influences. Although the traditions and customs of Nowruz vary from country to country, there are many unifying features. For example, in most regions, before the festival people perform ritual dances such as leaping over fire and streams and many households also replenish their water supplies on the last Wednesday of the year.

Nowruz provides an opportunity not only to enjoy the ancient cultural customs of the Silk Roads, but also to promote peace and solidarity across communities by recognizing the significance of our pluralistic identities.  As it contributes to cultural diversity and friendship among peoples and different communities, Nowruz fits closely with UNESCO’s mandate.

In particular with relation to the  2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage , Nowruz was inscribed as an element in 2009, and extended in 2016, on the Representative List of the  Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity,  at the joint initiative of Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, India, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. In 2010, the “ International Day of Nowruz ” was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly. This Resolution welcomes the efforts of Member States where Nowruz is celebrated to preserve and develop the culture and traditions related to Nowruz, and encourages Member States to make efforts to raise awareness about Nowruz and to organize annual events in commemoration of this festivity.

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What is Nowruz and how is the Persian New Year celebrated?

Some 300 million people celebrate the Persian New Year, which has been observed for 3,000 years in different regions. Here’s what we know about the festivity.

Nowruz – No-Ruz or Farsi for “new day” – is an ancient festival celebrating the first day of spring in the Northern Hemisphere.

More than 300 million people celebrate the Persian New Year, which has been observed for more than 3,000 years in different regions, including the Balkans, the Black Sea Basin, the Caucasus, Central Asia, the Middle East and others.

Here is what to know about the festivity.

What is Nowruz?

Nowruz is a celebration that marks the end of an old year and the beginning of a new one and is celebrated on the day of the astronomical vernal equinox, which usually takes place on March 21.

The celebrations last for 13 days, and it’s an opportunity to reflect on the past and set intentions for the future.

The festival is rooted in Zoroastrianism, a religion practised in ancient Persia that predates Christianity and Islam.

According to The United Nations cultural agency (UNESCO), the return of spring has great spiritual significance, representing the triumph of good over evil and joy over sorrow.

“The Spirit of Noon, known as Rapithwina, who was considered to be driven underground by the Spirit of Winter during the cold months, was welcomed back with celebrations at noon on the day of Nowruz according to Zoroastrian tradition,” UNESCO said.

The celebration is part of UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, and the United Nations General Assembly of 2010 proclaimed March 21 as International Nowruz Day.

Happy Nowruz! This celebration of the arrival of spring is as rich in names as it is in traditions. Bringing people together for over 3,000, #Nowruz is a great moment to step into this new year with a renewal of hope. Discover this #LivingHeritage : https://t.co/O8jw59Nmi2 pic.twitter.com/Bl1SlZcB7W — UNESCO 🏛️ #Education #Sciences #Culture 🇺🇳 (@UNESCO) March 20, 2023

Who celebrates Nowruz?

Given its origins, the festivity is marked in countries with significant Persian cultural influence, including  Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, India, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Turkey, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

It is also observed by minority communities in the Americas, and Europe, including in cities like Los Angeles, Toronto, and London.

How do people celebrate Nowruz?

The celebrations vary from country to country, but some common traditions are shared.

Some include symbolic preparations with fire and water and ritual dances that sometimes involve jumping over fires. The flames symbolically purge the bad experiences from the previous year.

Before the start of Nowruz, a traditional spring cleaning takes place in the houses, while, during the celebration, people reunite with family and friends. Right before the arrival of the new year, families gather and exchange wishes, with the eldest distributing sweets and young children receiving coins and presents.

But one of the most important traditions lies in preparing the Haft-Seen table.

Haft-Seen table during Nowruz

The Haft-Seen table, or the table of seven things that start with the letter S, is a family activity.

It usually starts by spreading a special family cloth on the table, and then it is followed by placing the seven S items. These can include:

• Sirkeh (vinegar): Represents age and patience that often comes with ageing
• Sikkeh (coin):  For wealth and prosperity
• Seer (garlic): For good health
• Seeb (apples): For health and natural beauty
• Sabzeh (wheat): For rebirth, renewal and good fortune
• Samanu (wheat pudding): A sweet dessert for wealth, fertility and the sweetness of life
• Sumac (berries): For the sunrise and the celebration of a new day

Besides these elements, the table might also include a mirror to symbolically reflect the past year, painted eggs to represent fertility, a goldfish to represent new life, and candles to show light and happiness.

A variety of food dishes are prepared during the festivity, but “ash-e resteh” or noodle soup is usually served and is believed to symbolise the “many possibilities in one’s life”, according to research conducted by Harvard University.

Special sweets, including baklava and sugar-coated almonds, are also believed to bring good fortune and are shared during the celebration. Other dishes include fish served with special rice with green herbs and spices, symbolising nature in spring.

Navroz explained, part two: What is the Haft Seen table? Click the link to watch the full video from the What Ismailis Believe series. https://t.co/MSBG7b4CfA (Available in Arabic, English, Farsi, French, Hindi, Portuguese Urdu) #Ismaili #WhatIsmailisBelieve #Navroz #Nawruz pic.twitter.com/4mAPME2cWO — The Ismaili (@TheIsmaili) March 20, 2023

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What is Nowruz? The Persian New Year explained

Nowruz is the national New Year festivity celebrated in Iran , Afghanistan , and the Kurdish regions of Iraq , Turkey and Syria , and throughout Central Asia.

With roots going back to at least  3,000  years, Nowruz is one of the oldest festivals that is still marked by humans.

The event is a springtime celebration whose activities symbolise rebirth and the link between humans and nature. The Iranian poet Saadi (1210-1291) wrote: “Awaken, the morning Nowruz breeze is showering the garden with flowers.”

While the two-week celebrations centre on seeing relatives, picnicking, travelling, and eating traditional food, Nowruz itself - which is Farsi for New Day - is steeped in ancient myths and fiction, as well as traditions and symbols.

When is Nowruz?

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It begins at the spring equinox - the moment when the sun crosses the equator and day and night are of equal length.

Usually, this is between 19-21 March, depending on astronomical calculations. This year, it is due to begin on 20 March a little after 7am Tehran local time.

Who celebrates Nowruz?

It is part of Zoroastrianism, a Persian religion that predates Christianity and Islam to the first millennium BC. It is both monotheistic - Ahuramazda, the supreme deity, is the creator of all things good - and dualistic in its teachings. In Zoroastrianism, fire and water are considered symbols of purity. It was founded by Zoroaster (also known as  Zarathustra), whose religious teachings are the foundation for Zoroastrianism.

His collections of writings are known as the Avesta .

When was Nowruz first celebrated?

Described by 11th-century Persian astronomer and poet Omar Khayyam as “the renewal of the world”, Nowruz dates back thousands of years.

It is not known exactly how far back Nowruz goes, but current estimates are that it is at least 3,000 years old, when the Persian empire extended beyond the borders of modern Iran. It is not mentioned in the Avesta .

Over the centuries, this age-old rite has developed and expanded. Gradually, the celebrations accumulated more social, religious and cultural influences as they spread along established trade routes and among an estimated 300 million people.

It has survived centuries of conquests, from the seventh- and eighth-century Arab forces which invaded the Persian world to governments in the former Soviet republics in Central Asia; from the Taliban in Afghanistan to secular authorities in Turkey, Syria and Iraq, which have tried to curtail Kurdish cultural identity.

How do you prepare for Nowruz?

While specific traditions vary from country to country, as different cultures add their own elements, the central theme is the same: a celebration of spring and a time for rebirth and renewal.

In Afghanistan, for example, the main event is  Guli Surkh , or the Red Flower Festival in the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif, where the buzkashi  tournaments, a national sport similar to polo, are held during the first 40 days of the year. A goat carcass is used instead of a ball.

A commonality across the Central Asian countries is the 24-hour preparation of sumalak , a thick pudding made from wheatgrass, as women sing folk songs while stirring huge pots. Open-air festivals showcase nomadic traditions and sports, such as horse racing, wrestling, and archery.

Preparations for Nowruz celebrations in Iran begin weeks before the start of spring, including house-cleaning ( khaneh takani ). Families also grow sabzeh (wheat, barley, mung bean or lentils) in a dish.

When the greens sprout after a couple of weeks, the dish is placed on the Haft-seen  table, which is the focus of Nowruz observance. It is joined by six other symbolic items which start with the Persian letter "seen" or S. That makes seven, a sacred number in Zoroastrianism. They include:

- seeb (apples) - symbol of health and beauty

- senjed (dried oleaster berries) - wisdom and rebirth

- samanu (wheat pudding) - strength/justice

- somaq (sumac) – patience

- serkeh (vinegar) - age/patience

- seer (garlic) - cleansing of body and environment

The Haft-seen spread also includes other items such as a mirror, symbolising reflection; coloured eggs, for fertility; and goldfish in a bowl, which represent life.

There is usually also a book by the Persian poet Hafez (1315-1390), or the Quran. They reflect Nowruz’s power to blend its ancient roots with more recent religious and cultural traditions.

How is Nowruz celebrated?

The arrival of Nowruz is announced by street singers, known as Haji Firooz , who wear colourful outfits and play the tambourine. 

The performers blacken their faces with shoe polish or a mixture of soot and fat. Years ago, charcoal was commonly used. They represent a fictional character in Iranian folklore whose roots are ambiguous.

Some versions of the traditional story trace him to a character watching over the eternal flame of the ancient Zoroastrians; another is that Haji Firooz was actually a black slave who entertained during the New Year in the Sassanid period (224 to 651 AD). Yet the more plausible theory is that he was one of the estimated two million black slaves who were brought to Iran from Africa as part of the 19th century Indian Ocean slave trade.

The last Tuesday evening before Nowruz (17 March this year) is the celebration of Chaharshanbeh Soori , the symbolic burning of all that was negative from the previous year while looking forward to a new beginning.

Related customs include jumping over bonfires in the streets while chanting: “Give me your red colour, take my yellow colour.” This symbolises how the fire takes away the yellow of sickness and gives back the red of health and warmth.

In recent years, firecrackers have become more frequent, much to the annoyance of some participants. There is also qashoq zani, which involves children banging spoons on cooking pots and knocking on neighbours’ doors to receive sweets.

What food do people eat for Nowruz?

On the first day of Nowruz, families gather at the home of their oldest family member.

The traditional New Year meal includes sabzi polo mahi (rice mixed with herbs and served with white fish); ash reshteh (a thick green soup with noodles, chickpeas and beans); and kuku sabzi (vegetable frittata).

Pastries include baghlava , toot (mulberry); naan-nokhodchi (chickpea cookies with pistachio); and ajeel  (dried berries and raisins).

How long does Nowruz last?

The festivities end 13 days after the New Year with Sizdeh Bedar , which can be translated as either “getting rid of 13” (a symbol of bad luck), or “to hit the road”.

On Sizdeh Bedar , people head for open fields, plains, parks and riversides to picnic, taking with them the sabzeh they had meticulously grown. There, they throw the sabzeh into the river or the fields, to symbolise giving back to nature. 

Schools and offices usually re-open the following day.

What's the Iranian government view of Nowruz celebrations?

After the 1979 overthrow of 2,500 years of monarchy, the Islamic Republic of Iran, which had initially tried to equate the celebratory rituals with paganism, failed to stamp out the festivities that are deeply embedded in Iranian culture.

Thus in Iran, Nowruz has become a symbol of resistance that is reflected in the common greeting Nowruz pirooz , which means “Nowruz victorious”, or more commonly,  Eid shoma mubarak .

How do we know about Nowruz?

In his book Cyropaedia , the Greek historian Xenophon (431-354 BC) mentions the celebration that took place in Persepolis - Persepolis in Persian is Takht-e Jamshid , or the “Throne of Jamshid”.

According to Persian legend, Jamshid possessed divine glory and was commanded by the supreme Zoroastrian deity Ahuramazda - who represented light and fire, truth, goodness and wisdom - to fight Ahriman. Ahriman was his twin brother, the god of darkness, anger and death, who had caused drought, famine and the destruction of good and abundance.

After defeating Ahriman, every dry tree blossomed and Jamshid once more brought prosperity to his people, hence the present-day tradition of giving back the sabzeh to nature.

Related narratives are mainly traced from the epic Shahnameh (Book of Kings), by the 11th-century poet Ferdowsi, which credits the mythical King Jamshid for establishing Nowruz after he saved humans from a harsh winter that was destined to freeze the planet.

“He constructed a throne studded with gems, and had demons raise him aloft from the earth into the heavens; there he sat on his throne like the sun shining in the sky. The world's creatures gathered in wonder about him and scattered jewels on him, and called this day the New Day, or Nowruz,” Ferdowsi notes in Shahnameh .

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Celebrations are underway for Nowruz, Persian New Year, marking the start of spring

Joe Hernandez

People gather in Tehran's Azadi Square on March 20, 2023 to celebrate Nowruz, the Persian New Year. STR/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

People gather in Tehran's Azadi Square on March 20, 2023 to celebrate Nowruz, the Persian New Year.

Monday marked the beginning of spring, and that means celebrations commemorating the centuries-old holiday of Nowruz are underway.

Commonly known as the Persian New Year, Nowruz translates to "new day" and symbolizes revival and renewal for its more than 300 million celebrants in modern-day Iran and beyond. Historically, the holiday has been observed in the Middle East and parts of Asia.

The roughly two-week festival typically includes food, dancing, singing and poetry.

This year, Nowruz will overlap with the Muslim holy month of Ramadan , when observers typically fast during daylight hours.

Nowruz is more than 3,000 years old

Though the exact origins of Nowruz are murky, the holiday's roots are ancient. Marking the new year using the vernal equinox — when the Sun moves above the Earth's equator — may have started as a Babylonian tradition .

On the ground in Iran

Where does iran go now.

But it's said that Nowruz has at least some of its beginnings in one of the world's oldest religions, Zoroastrianism, which has many of its contemporary adherents in Iran, India and North America.

Under Zoroastrian tradition, Nowruz marked the return of a spirit that had been banished underground during the colder winter months, according to UNESCO. The holiday may also be related to Jamshid, a Persian king of mythology.

Nowruz is banned in Afghanistan, but families continue to celebrate

The vernal equinox, which marks the start of Nowruz, occurs when the tilt of the Earth aligns with the Sun and presages the warmer months of spring and summer ahead for the Northern Hemisphere.

The tradition has evolved into a widely celebrated secular holiday

Nowruz later spread across the vibrant trade routes of the Silk Road, and along the way incorporated new "new social, religious and cultural influences," UNESCO said.

It's now celebrated by a wide array of ethnicities and religious groups in countries beyond Iran, including India, Afghanistan, Turkey and Pakistan.

Iraqi Kurds celebrate the Persian New Year, Nowruz, in the town of Akra in Iraq's northern autonomous Kurdish region, on March 20, 2023. Safin Hamed/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

Iraqi Kurds celebrate the Persian New Year, Nowruz, in the town of Akra in Iraq's northern autonomous Kurdish region, on March 20, 2023.

Reza Goharzad, host of Politics Today on KIRN Radio in Los Angeles, told NPR that "resistance and solidarity" against oppressive governments have been hallmarks of Nowruz.

"When any kind of foreigners attacked Iran," Goharzad said, people still gathered for Nowruz.

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Women across iran are refusing to wear headscarves, in open defiance of the regime.

Those celebrating the holiday may get together with family and feast, sing songs and dance as well as take part in the Nowruz custom of jumping over fire , a tradition that's meant to symbolically burn away negativity from the past year.

Iranians applauded Disney last week after the company aired a video of Mickey Mouse celebrating Nowruz by leaping over a paper fire and explaining the holiday table known as the haftseen .

It's the first Nowruz since protests erupted across Iran last year

Nowruz celebrations in Iran this year come as the country continues to grapple with widespread social and political unrest.

Outrage sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini in the custody of Iran's so-called morality police last year ballooned into widespread protests against the country's theocratic government . Though the demonstrations have slowed, anger toward Iran's political leaders has persisted.

A vendor in Tehran works at his stall ahead of Nowruz on Thursday, March 16, 2023. Iran's economy has recently struggled with high inflation. Vahid Salemi/AP hide caption

A vendor in Tehran works at his stall ahead of Nowruz on Thursday, March 16, 2023. Iran's economy has recently struggled with high inflation.

Meanwhile Iran's economy is sputtering , causing prices for goods in the country to surge.

Soraya Batmanghelichi, an associate professor for the study of modern Iran at the University of Oslo in Norway, told NPR she had been asking people how they were celebrating Chaharshanbe Suri, the last Wednesday before Nowruz.

'I can dream it, but I can't afford it': The stark reality of life in Iran right now

"In Tehran, those who went to the parks and put on music and danced, it's like if the government says not to do it, they fight back even more by dancing. But it's not a dancing of happiness. It's a dancing of, 'I'm going to stick it to you,'" Batmanghelichi said.

"It's like, 'I'm told to not show my hair, to wear hijab in a particular way. OK, I'm just going to wear my hair down.' But it's really not just about hijab. It's about how to survive the moment and do it in a way where one can control his or her fate," she added.

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Girls at a navruz celebration in Uzbekistan offer guests to the festival tea, bread, and other refreshments.

Navruz, Nooruz, Nowruz: The Ancient Spring New Year of Central Asia

Published: May 1, 2024

Navruz is a spring solstice celebration that marks the beginning of the New Year according to the traditional Persian calendar. It has been a beloved holiday for some 3,000 years, surviving cultural change caused by centuries of tumultuous history. It was once celebrated on the vernal equinox but is now celebrated on the set date of March 21st.

Navruz is a profound cultural and historical celebration marking the symbiotic relationship between humanity and the natural world, deeply embedded in the rhythms of the earth.

The holiday has long been celebrated over a wide geographic area including primarily the mostly-Muslim countries of Western Asia, Central Asia, the Caspian Sea region, and the Balkans. Navruz is an official holiday in Afghanistan, Albania, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iraqi Kurdistan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia’s Bayan-Ölgii province, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. In Russia and the United States, Navruz celebrations are growing in popularity in large part because of the Iranian and Tajik diasporas there.

Traditions surrounding this holiday vary across the diverse cultures that celebrate it. This article will focus on the history and celebration of Navruz in Central Asia. It will also look most specifically at the traditions of Tajikistan, a Persian-speaking country, and Uzbekistan, a Turkic-speaking country.

The Long, Long History of Navruz

Navruz originated from Zoroastrianism, an ancient monotheistic religion that predates Christianity. Zoroaster, the religion’s creator, was likely born around 628 BCE and was Persian. He was highly concerned with questions of death and rebirth and how good (equated with light and knowledge) can conquer evil (equated with ignorance and darkness). Many of the stories and much of the philosophy of Zoroastrianism’s holy book, The Avesta , have parallels in Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, which all originated in the same geographic region as Zoroastrainism.

Because it is so old, the beginnings of Navruz are shrouded in folklore and mystery. The Avesta mentions Navruz as one of Zoroastrianism’s seven important celebrations. That book however, was only assembled in 1323 CE, although the texts it brought together are likely much older. The Persian national epic, The Shahnameh , states that King Jamshid started Navruz to save humanity from a long winter that threatened to kill every living thing. However, King Jamshid, most historians agree, is likely an entirely fictional character of Persian mythology.

We do know that in the Achaemenid Empire, around the fifth century BCE, that Navruz was celebrated and was likely the most important holiday of the year. We know as well that it had a similar status under the Sassanids from about the 3rd to 7th centuries CE. We also know that as Zoroastrianism spread across Iran and Central Asia, it brought Navruz along with it. We know that it persisted after the arrival of Arab invaders and Islam to the area well after the 7th century CE and that, when the Russian Empire conquered Central Asia in the 1800s, Navruz celebrations also continued.

Navruz has survived revolutions and oppressive governments that have attempted to ban or coopt the holiday in recent times. Soviet Russia, post-revolution Iran, and the Taliban government of Afghanistan, for instance, all attempted to ban the holiday at some point, feeling that the ancient Zoorastrian-rooted tradition didn’t correspond with their own ideologies. However, Navruz traditions were and are still celebrated in all these affected areas.

With the fall of the USSR, Navruz celebrations have experienced a revival across Central Asia and much of the Caucuses as the peoples of each country have looked back to their pre-soviet traditions as a basis on which to build new, distinct national and ethnic identities. For many, Navruz is a powerful part of that identity.

Today, among the cultures that celebrate it, Navruz is generally seen as a new start with a clean slate. People make amends, clean their houses, and buy or make new clothes to start the New Year. It is believed that for the New Year, everything should be as if new again.

Navruz Sports

In many cultures that celebrate Navruz, wrestling and equestrian sports are particularly popular. As Navruz celebrates life and strength, it makes sense that sports are a big part of the festival.

Most of the cultures have a specific type of wrestling that they consider a source of national pride. For instance, the Tajiks wrestle in a style called “gushtigiri” and will tell of its connections to their ancestors, Sogdians and Bactrians. The Uzbek style is called “kurash” and has links to the national hero Tamerlane, who used the sport to train his troops.

Equestrian sports are dominated in Central Asia by a game in which one must carry a whole goat carcass while on horseback and deposit it into a goal. In Tajikistan, where the sport is known as “buzkashi,” and Uzbekistan, where it is known as “kupkari,” it is particularly chaotic, often with dozens of players all playing against each other and with almost no rules except one against knocking another player off his horse – which could result in death in such conditions. The sport takes considerable strength, a well-trained horse of great endurance, and equestrian skill. It also has historically military ties, as Central Asia’s greatest armies were equestrian.

Social hierarchy can also be seen in these games. The day often begins with boys on the field, and ends with older men. The matches are instigated by a village elder or other resected person. Older men are given the best seats from which to watch. Lastly, it is only men who participate. Women do not compete and often do not attend these matches.

How Navruz is Celebrated: Fire, Poetry, and Song

Other common customs include fires. Some cultures will make smaller fires and jump over them. This tradition was once held by many cultures and is believed to give health or grant wishes. Today, the fires are more often used a space to enjoy the night with family reciting poetry or singing traditional songs.

Particularly in major cities, one can find major concerts held and other large-scale festivities. In Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan, for instance, there is a parade that features the Navruz Princess, typically a young girl, as well as dancers from different regions of Tajikistan, floats showing Tajik national food, and more. In fact, in Tajikistan, Navruz is a weeklong holiday to fit in all the festivities.

In Uzbekistan, there are several rituals such as singing “Kelin salom” (“The Bride’s Hello”), a song traditionally sang at weddings. During Navruz, new brides or young women act out the Kelin salom while wearing traditional Uzbek dresses. In Uzbekistan, workers have three days off from work to celebrate Navruz.

The Tajiks also have a traditional poem to recite called the “Bakhor omad,” which tells how the New Year came in spring to renew the cycle of life.

Above: a performance of Kelin Salom in Uzbekistan.

Throughout the area that it is celebrated, Navruz represents a holiday of cleaning and cooking, of eating and spending time with loved ones, and of sport and taking joy in language, dance, and song. Navruz is also almost uniformly celebrated by people wearing their national dress showing that while this is a widespread and ancient tradition, it is very much a part of modern identities and national pride as well.

How Navruz Was Celebrated in Uzbekistan in 2023

Special Contribution by Alexandra Koteva

I attended SRAS’ Spring Break: Navruz in Uzbekistan program in spring, 2023. The program tours Uzbekistan’s major cities and covers a wide swath of the country’s fascinating history and culture. A major highlight of the program was the opportunity to see Navruz. This ancient holiday is rooted in Zoroastrianism and is one of Central Asia’s biggest and most unique celebrations.

Navruz is a weeklong celebration with the most important day falling on the vernal equinox, which, in 2023, was March 21st. We got to experience the national dishes, family gatherings, traditional games, music and dances, sport competitions, fairs, and other festivities that accompany the holiday.

Most Uzbek families prepare for Navruz by dedicating an entire day to cooking traditional dishes and gathering with their family and neighbors. As part of our study tour, our guide Nodir invited us to his personal home in Khiva so we could experience how a family prepares for Navruz.

Sumalak is a food that is only prepared and eaten during Navruz. Sumalak is a thick wheat pudding that is famously labor intensive. It is prepared from sprouting wheat grains and seeds which are milled and then cooked in a cauldron over an open flame. By the time we arrived, Nodir’s family was in the stirring stage of this process, working with the traditional large dowel on a frequent basis while the mixture concentrates over a period of 24 hours. Consistently stirring the sumalak requires a number of people taking turns to make sure it doesn’t burn over its cooking time. Hence, we got to experience its tradition of bringing people together by joining the family in stirring the mixture. The savory sweet smell was heavenly.

Throughout the week, I also saw many people at the bazaars selling homemade jars of sumalak for Navruz – as not everyone has the time in modern Uzbekistan to devote to this process.

Nodir’s family also taught us how to prepare spinach samsa. Samsa is a baked pastry that usually features meat, but it is made with spinach on Navruz because it is a holiday that celebrates the spring and its fresh vegetation. We rolled out the dough, added the spinach-parsley filling, then sealed the dough before it went in the oven to bake. Nodir’s family also made Khivan flatbreads (large, round flatbreads that are imprinted with a pointillism-like bread stamp to create circular patterns) and plov with beef, chickpeas, raisins, and flavorful spices. Other foods served alongside the main dishes included nuts (peanuts and walnuts), fresh and dried fruits (in particular: apples, oranges, and mulberries), tomato and cucumber salad, meat soups, pelmeni (dumplings), and khvorost (sweet crisps made by deep frying a batter from eggs, flour, and water). I learned that it is also traditional to place wheatgrass, the same as is used to make sumalak, on the table during Navruz to symbolize renewal.

Food isn’t the only thing that brings people together on Navruz. Music and dance are major parts of the holiday. Nodir’s neighbors played music on traditional string instruments for us, and I spent hours dancing with his young daughter, Vazira.

Uzbekistan also holds several official celebrations sponsored by the government. Major parks throughout the country, particularly in the capital of Tashkent, hold large festivities for Navruz to compliment the family gatherings. These include concerts and dances and special decorations for city parks such as lit-up fountains.

I had the opportunity to visit Magic City Park in Tashkent on Navruz on my own after the conclusion of the SRAS program. Young boys and older men performed national Uzbek music on drums and wind instruments. Large crowds gathered around them and followed them as part of a parade throughout the park. The processions paused every now and then for a performance during which locals joined in dance. Local Uzbek artists also gave free public music and dance performances on the park’s concert stage later in the evening. I later strolled to Tashkent City Park, not too far away, to enjoy more live concert music, also held for the holiday.

Lastly, while in Khiva, I was able to learn some kurash at a local sports school. The visit was through the SRAS tour. This traditional form of Uzbek wrestling/martial art is often on display for Navruz. There were only two young girls there (the rest were all boys), so they were very excited to see me and another girl from the study tour interested in participating. We began by stretching and warming up before transitioning to kurash moves that involved flipping onto the ground.

While sports and feats of strength are common at spring festivals world-wide, the connection between kurash and Navruz specifically is that both are proud expressions of Uzbekistan’s ancient culture. Both have extensive histories and associations: Navruz practices date from the 8th century BC, and kurash is one of the (if not the) oldest sports in the area and remains extremely popular.

In conclusion, my time in Uzbekistan was incredible. Engaging with a foreign culture at such a close level can be challenging, but the SRAS tour gave us opportunities to openly celebrate with friendly locals. For example, preparing sumalak with a local family and learning kurash were things I would not have been able to do on my own. I cherish many memories from this Navruz trip, most of all dancing with Nodir’s daughter all evening during the Navruz preparation. I also recommended the SRAS Navruz tour because this holiday extends beyond Uzbekistan, meaning that it gives you greater regional experience as well, and it’s a great way to widen one’s cultural awareness overall.

How Navruz Was Celebrated in Kyrgyzstan in 2024

Special Contribution by Bowie Fritsch, The University of Texas at Austin

As a student in the SRAS program in Bishkek, I got to experience Nowruz firsthand in two different countries.

My first sight of Nowruz was in Uzbekistan , where I traveled as an optional part of my program with SRAS in Kyrgyzstan. In Uzbekistan, I first encountered sumalak, a pudding made from wheat sprouts, which is exclusively made for Nowruz. During a visit to Khiva, the hometown of our tour guide, we were invited as guests to his home. There, we joined his family before a giant cauldron in front of the house where sumalak was being prepared. It has to be stirred for 24 hours, and I remember women taking turns stirring it as its preparation takes a lot of cooperation and effort. We also got to join in for some time to stir. While the sumalak was being stirred, as is tradition, there was singing and dancing, which is said to improve the sumalak by imbibing it with spiritual and physical strength and unity. Unfortunately, the sumalak would not be ready to eat until the next day, so I would have to wait to try it.

In Uzbekistan, I was also lucky enough to see kok boru , which is a traditional game played throughout Central Asia, including in Kyrgyzstan, on Nowruz and many other major holidays. Kok boru originates from the times of nomadism when it was also beneficial to keep men physically ready to defend their people and livestock. Kok boru is played by two teams of men on horseback who score by getting the ulak, which is a goat carcass, into the other team’s kazan (a pot-shaped goal). To watch the game, we gathered on a large field with about a hundred spectators. This game was relatively small as bigger kok boru games can gather considerably more. There are few boundaries or rules to the game, so we had to move around to avoid getting stampeded by the charging horses.

When we arrived back in Bishkek, Nowruz celebrations were also in progress there. The London School, where our study abroad program is held, had a small celebration with singing and games like tug of war. Traditional dishes like plov were served. The next day, I visited Ala-Too Square, where, during Nowruz, there are many games, performances, and concerts that celebrate the Spring and Kyrgyz culture. When I got there, it was raining lightly, but there was still a crowd of people. I did not stay in the square long because I had plans with my host family, but I did hear singing from a concert and saw many yurts set up. I walked throughout the square where I saw vendors selling fried bread and samalak as far as the eye could see; I also saw a few vendors selling candies and tables set up with various carnival games like a boxing arcade.

Although there are many events and festivities on Nowruz, most of my day was spent with my host family to have an iftar and celebrate the holiday. Most of Central Asia, including Kyrgyzstan, is Muslim and Nowruz falls right in the middle of another beloved holiday, the month-long celebration of Ramadan. During Ramadan , one must fast from sun up to sun down and thus one eats hearty breakfasts and large dinners to help get one through the day. The important evening meal is known as an iftar.

There were many guests and a table set with bread, borsok , sweets, and tea. Traditional foods were served, starting with salad, then shorpo soup, and later beshbarmak . There was also sumalak, which I got to try for the first time and was delighted to find it sweet and almost chocolate-like. After the meal, prayers were said, and later traditional songs were played.

I greatly enjoyed celebrating Nowruz and am thankful I could be in Kyrgyzstan during this festive time. From the food to festivities and gatherings of friends and family, Nowruz in Kyrgyzstan is a time-honored celebration of renewal, unity, and cultural heritage that serves as a poignant reminder of the timeless values that bind families and communities together.

Special Contribution by Kale Fuller, The Ohio State University

Nauruz, the old Zoroastrian new year that ushers in spring, is one of the largest holidays in Kyrgyzstan and being here in Bishkek during Nauruz was really amazing. The traditions of Nauruz are a very special way for Kyrgyz people to celebrate their heritage and practice millennia-old traditions.

Generally, Nauruz is celebrated by eating, dancing, and creating a special dish called sumalak. Sumalak is a thick brown paste made from wheat sprouts and flour, but what makes it really special is that it is made in a massive pot that is stirred for up to twenty-four hours – so it is incredibly labor intensive.

The morning of Nauruz it was absolutely pouring, but I grabbed a rain jacket and ventured to the main square at 10am, when the festivities were supposed to begin.

Despite the rain, there were more people there than normal, but it looked like the main celebration had been postponed to a time which I missed.

All day there was still an incredibly festive mood around Bishkek, every cafe and restaurant I visited that day had some sort of celebration, typically in the form of some sort of free food. Although Nauruz was originally a Zoroastrian holiday, it is now celebrated in mostly Muslim countries. Many major Muslim celebrations come with an expectation to perform acts of charity and generosity. So, for example, in a Turkish restaurant that my roommate and I went to, they gave us a small salad of carrots and cabbage, and at a cafe that I frequent they gave me a free cup of tea.

With Nauruz being such a big holiday, preparations begin early. I visited a large bazaar two days before Nauruz itself and people were already selling bottles of homemade sumalak. I began noticing Nauruz decorations a few days before the holiday itself, although these decorations were not nearly as extensive as what we have in America during the Christmas season.

The day before Nauruz, the London School, where we study with SRAS, put on a celebration and it was incredibly fun. We celebrated with all the traditional aspects of Nauruz: food, dancing, and traditional Kyrgyz games. As with many holidays in Kyrgyzstan, the table included plov, the traditional rice dish that is cooked in a cauldron-like pot called a kazan. Also on the menu was borsok, a fried dough dish, and an array of traditional drinks. My personal favorite Kyrgyz drink is chalap, a salty dairy drink that is incredibly filling.

It really struck me how similar most of the Kyrgyz games were to schoolyard games in the United States. One game was essentially duck, duck, goose but instead of tagging each other you throw a scarf and another was tug-of-war. Yet another (and my favorite) was a red-rover type game; I was too busy feasting on plov to play, but it was so fun to watch.

During the beginning of the celebration a woman in traditional garb burned evergreen wood and spread it throughout the air. This is a very old Kyrgyz tradition that is meant to get rid of negative spirits and cleanse the air, similar to the burning of sage in certain Native American traditions.

One of the most interesting aspects of the holiday to me, was the way in which it facilitates people to be proud of their Kyrgyz backgrounds. Around the time of Nauruz, and especially on the day itself, I noticed that significantly more people were wearing the traditional headwear, the distinctive Kyrgyz kalpak. The kalpak is an incredibly identifiable symbol for Kyrgyz culture and as such, is a symbol of their cultural pride.

Even now that Nauruz itself is over, there are some lingering festivities a few days after. For example, I went to a bazaar the Saturday after Nauruz and everywhere there were people buying and selling sumalak. From talking with local people and observing Bishkek the past few days, I have gathered that people really do view Nauruz as the beginning of spring and many things that come with warmer weather. For example, the sale of traditional drinks on the side of the road begins just after Nauruz.

Although incredibly few people in Kyrgyzstan would identify themselves as Zoroastrian, this holiday is really alive and well here. Not only that, but as Kyrgyzstan, like many post-soviet countries, continues to build its own national identity, Nauruz offers an amazing opportunity to celebrate in a uniquely Central Asian way.

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About the author

Caroline Murray

Caroline Murray participated in SRAS’s Russian as a Second Language program in St. Petersburg in 2016. She is currently a Fulbright ETA in Bukhara, Uzbekistan. Previously, she was a FLEX participant recruiter with American Councils in Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan. She was inspired to apply for the Fulbright and FLEX because of her experience in St. Petersburg to further develop the language and cultural skills she acquired abroad.

Program attended: Online Internships

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Josh Wilson

Josh lived in Moscow from 2003, when he first arrived to study Russian with SRAS, until 2022. He holds an M.A. in Theatre and a B.A. in History from Idaho State University, where his masters thesis was written on the political economy of Soviet-era censorship organs affecting the stage. At SRAS, Josh assists in program development and leads our Internship Programs . He is also the editor-in-chief for the SRAS newsletter , the SRAS Family of Sites , and Vestnik . He has previously served as Communications Director to Bellerage Alinga and has served as a consultant or translator to several businesses and organizations with interests in Russia.

Program attended: SRAS Staff Member

View all posts by: Josh Wilson

Alexandra Koteva

Alexandra Koteva, at the time she wrote for this site, was double majoring in Political Science and Music and minoring in Russian Culture at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Her material here was produced as part of an SRAS Online Research Internship done while she was studying abroad with SRAS in Batumi, Georgia. She is a native speaker of Bulgarian.

View all posts by: Alexandra Koteva

SRAS Wikis are maintained collectively by SRAS Challenge Grant Writers and Home and Abroad Scholars. They are meant to be continually updated repositories of information created for students and by students to best suit each SRAS location.

View all posts by: SRASwiki

Olivia Route

Olivia Route is an undergraduate studying Russian and International Relations at the University of Pennsylvania. She has previously spent summers in Russia and is excited to spend a semester exploring the former Soviet Union through SRAS’s Policy and Conflict program. Olivia likes running, eating, nature, and art.

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Kurdish Newroz

Kurds in Turkey Celebrate Newroz

Kurds celebrate Newroz (alternatively pronounced Nowruz in Iran, as phonetic spelling varies) as their New Year’s Day on March 20th, the first day of Spring. Newroz originated in Persia in the religious tradition of Zoroastrianism , and is celebrated by the cultural regions that came under Iranian influence or had Persian immigrants.  [1]

Kurdish New Year’s

Newroz is the Kurdish celebration of the Persian new year holiday “Nowruz.” Kurdish Newroz coincides with the Spring Equinox, and is a festival celebrating the beginning of spring. Over the years, Newroz has come to represent new beginnings, as well as an opportunity to support the Kurdish cause. For these reasons, Newroz is considered to be the most important festival in Kurdish culture. Typically the festival is celebrated in the days running up to the Spring Equinox, and this year will be celebrated from March 21th to April 1st.

During Newroz, there are special foods, fireworks, dancing, singing, and poetry recitations. Spring flowers (such as tulips, hyacinths, and pussy willows) are cut, new clothes are worn, and pottery is smashed for good luck. Families spend the day in the country, enjoying nature and the fresh growth of spring.

The celebration of Newroz has its local peculiarities in different regions of Kurdistan. On the eve of Newroz, in southern and eastern Kurdistan, bonfires are lit. These fires symbolize the passing of the dark season, winter, and the arrival of spring, the season of light. During the thirteen days after Newroz, families visit each other and visit the graves of dead relatives. Everyone tries to resolve any conflicts or misunderstandings that may be carried from the year before.

Even though most Kurds are longer nomads, they continue to celebrate important dates associated with that way of life. These include lambing time, celebration before moving the herds to summer pastures, shearing time, and the time of return to the village in the fall. Islamic holidays vary in importance among individual Kurds. [2]

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How different countries celebrate Nowruz, the Persian New Year

The UN has marked 21 March as International Nowruz Day — a celebration of spring and the connection between humans and nature. Here, we look at the similarities between, and peculiarities across, the nations that commemorate this ancient rite.

Every March, 300 million people from across the world take part in celebrations that involve leaping over bonfires, performing folk music and reciting poems, cleaning every inch of their homes and eating copious amounts of home-cooked food in the process. Nowruz, commonly known as Persian New Year, is a commemoration of spring and fertility, and marks the overcoming of sorrow and darkness. It’s celebrated not only in Iran, but in the likes of Azerbaijan, Afghanistan and countries across Central Asia, as well as their diasporas around the globe.

Nowruz, which means ‘new day’ in Farsi, marks the first day of the Persian calendar and falls at the same time as the spring equinox (usually on 20   or 21 March). Although it’s a secular holiday, it’s widely believed to be rooted in Zoroastrianism — one of the world’s oldest monotheist religions, dating back 3,000 years and preceding both Christianity and Islam. The Muslim conquest of Persia in the seventh century led to Zoroastrianism being slowly eradicated, but its fundamentals — including a deep reverence for the four elements of nature — stayed put and birthed this public holiday still celebrated by millions across the Muslim-majority region.

Although the principles of Nowruz are the same, each country weaves in its own unique traditions — and spells it slightly differently. In 2016, it was added to UNESCO’s Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, recognising a celebration that’s withstood, quite remarkably, three millennia of changing regimes and religions.

In Iran, it’s a bedrock of tradition and culture

Nowruz is Iran’s biggest holiday and a momentous time across the country. It usually kicks off with a spring-cleaning ritual called khane tekani , which translates to ‘shaking down the house’. Once the home is in order, on the last Wednesday before Nowruz, Iranians light up the streets and skies for Chaharshanbe Suri , or ‘Red Celebration’, in honour of all things fire —   an element Zoroastrians believe to be a symbol of purity.

People set off endless fireworks, jump over bonfires (to symbolise renewal of life) and release sky lanterns fille­­­d with their hopes and dreams for the year ahead. The new year is usually announced by Haji Firooz, a fictional, tambourine-playing character with ambiguous origins. In cities like Yazd and Isfahan , a festival called Sadeh honours fire for the 50 days and nights that precede Nowruz.

And when it comes to celebratory food, there’s an abundance of it. Traditional Nowruz dishes include kookoo sabzi   (a herb frittata) and sabzi polo ba mahi   (a herby rice dish with white fish). But perhaps the most symbolic observance is haft-sin , the custom of setting a table with seven items beginning with the letter s (seven is believed to be a lucky number). This can include sabzeh   (sprouted lentil or wheat), which symbolises rebirth; seer (garlic) for good health; serekh (vinegar) for patience; seeb (apple) for beauty; and samanu,   a sweet paste made from germinated wheat that’s a Nowrouz staple in every celebrating country. The display also traditionally features a goldfish (representing life), a mirror, candles and a holy book.

For Azerbaijanis, it’s a nod to their fiery past

Reminders of Azerbaijan’s Zoroastrian past are everywhere in the country, whether in its fire temples, burning hillsides or flame-shaped skyscrapers. Although ‘Novruz’ was stifled here under the Soviet regime, families continued to celebrate in secret, and today, it’s the most joyful date on the Azeri calendar. Festivities start early — the four Tuesdays in the run-up to Novruz celebrate the four elements: water, fire, earth and air.

Throughout this period, families gather to make traditional pastries like paklava , shekerbura and goghal ( representing the stars, moon and sun, respectively), as well as savoury staples like plov (a saffron-infused meat and rice dish), dolma (vine leaves stuffed with lamb, rice and herbs) and fragrant kebab.

Like Iran, there’s also a table of seven ‘s’ items, which are all centred around the semeni   (shoots of wheat tied together with a red ribbon). The holiday is particularly loved by children here, who pass the time by throwing hats at neighbours’ doors before hiding and hoping to return to a hat full of sweets and chocolate.

The country is taken over by street festivals involving traditional song and dance, tightrope-walking and the comical characters of Kecel and Kosa, who theatricalise the struggles between winter and spring. The largest festival of this kind is held in the capital, Baku . Other Azeri traditions include painting eggs; jumping over roaring bonfires; fortune-telling to foresee if and when girls will get married; and visiting the graves of relatives.

Afghanistan is thought to be the celebration’s spiritual   home  

Afghanistan has traditionally heralded in the new year in a similar way to its neighbours — it’s widely believed that the Balkh province is the spiritual homeland of ‘Nowroz’. Although contested, it’s said that Zoroaster, the ancient Iranian prophet who founded Zoroastrianism, lived and first preached in Balkh, one of the oldest cities in the world.

Nowroz was banned under the Taliban regime of the 1990s, as they considered it a pagan festival. Traditionally, Afghans have journeyed to the city of Mazar-i-Sharif, in the Balkh province, to attend the Guli Surkh festival; Nowroz’s main event, it commemorates the first 40 days of the year, when the green plains are awash with red tulips. Amid the return of Taliban control across many regions of Afghanistan in 2021, it’s unknown whether Nowroz can safely be observed in the country.

Buzkashi,   Afghanistan’s national sport, is a popular custom during Nowroz. It’s somewhat similar to polo, but instead of a ball, the horseback players manoeuvre the headless, disembowelled body of a goat. During an Afghan Nowroz feast, expect to find the likes of kolcheh Nowrozi   (biscuits made with rice flour), sabzi challow (spinach and lamb curry with rice) and haft mewa,   a fruit salad made with seven different dried fruits and nuts soaked in syrup.

Across Central Asia, it’s steeped in nomadic tradition

Nowruz is celebrated in all five of the ‘Stans’; Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. As in Azerbaijan, festivities in the region were suppressed during Soviet times and it wasn’t until the 1990s that Nowruz was publicly celebrated again. Traditions across the region have similar characteristics (think plenty of food , family gatherings, colourful street festivals and nomadic sports), although they can vary slightly from country to country and sometimes even city to city.

In Kazakhstan, ‘Nauryz’ is marked by the building of felt yurts (traditional nomad houses), in which a dastarkhan (a table of food) is laid out; nauryz koje , a hearty soup made using seven ingredients, is almost always on the table. In Kyrgyzstan, huge vessels of water are brought into the home on the eve of ‘Nooruz’ to symbolise good health. Traditional sports like wrestling, horseracing and board games are all customary when it comes to celebrations in this region.

For Kurdish people, it symbolises identity and freedom

‘Newroz’ is celebrated among the 30 million-strong Kurdish communities across Iraq, Turkey and Syria, as well as the ethnic Kurdish population of Iran. In addition to the general festivities, it’s also a celebration of a Kurdish myth: a blacksmith named Kawa, who defeated the evil King Zuhak and freed his people on the eve of Newroz. As such, the holiday symbolises not only the start of a new year, but also freedom for the Kurdish people, who are the world’s largest stateless group.  

In other parts of the world

After the Muslim conquest of the seventh century, most Persian Zoroastrians fled to India. Today, their descendants, the Parsi people, still practise Zoroastrianism and celebrate ‘Navroz’. Other minorities who mark the occasion include the Turkic Uyghur people of China and the Lezgins and Tatars of south Russia, as well as minorities in parts of the Balkans, Mongolia, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Diasporas around the world also host elaborate celebrations, with many to be found in cities across the US thanks to the country’s significant Iranian-American population.

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For Afghans Abroad, Nowruz Is a Chance to Reflect

The holiday marks the beginning of spring, with many in the diaspora celebrating with rebirth, renewal and, now, resistance in mind.

By Naz Deravian

Durkhanai Ayubi laughed as she recalled peeling walnuts as a child for haft mewa, a beloved Nowruz dish of her native Afghanistan.

To Ms. Ayubi, a restaurateur in Adelaide, Australia, it was always the most tedious part of preparing the dish. For years, her mother, Farida, would gather Ms. Ayubi and her siblings to peel all the nuts and sort through dried fruit before rinsing and steeping everything in water for two days until the fruit plumped and the liquid was sweetened like syrup. Then, finally, they would serve the refreshing compote as a central part of the holiday.

An ancient celebration rooted in Zoroastrian tradition, Nowruz signals the beginning of spring and the new year in Afghanistan, Iran , Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and beyond. Meaning “new day” in Persian, this year, the holiday falls on March 20 at 11:33 a.m. Eastern time in the Northern Hemisphere. The incongruity of celebrating the first day of spring while heading into an Australian winter is not lost on Ms. Ayubi, who runs Parwana Kitchen and Kutchi Deli in Adelaide with her family.

“It’s one of the funny things when you’re displaced and on the other side of the world,” Ms. Ayubi said. “Nowruz is all about flowers blooming, rebirth and renewal. But, for us, it’s become this symbolic thing that we mark through food and getting together with family and friends.”

A traditional feast includes mahee (fried freshwater fish symbolizing life) paired alongside trays of jelabi (sticky spiral-shaped fried pastries) and sabzi challaw (a fragrant spinach and lamb stew with rice).

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