Nowruz
nowruz persian نوروز noːˈɾuːz iranian new year persian new year historically observed persian iranian people celebrated many ethnicity worldwide festival based northern hemisphere spring equinox mark first day new year solar hijri calendar usually coincides date march march gregorian calendar root nowruz lie zoroastrianism celebrated many people across west asia central asia caucasus black sea basin balkan south asia year modern era observed secular holiday celebrant nowruz remains holy day zoroastrian baháʼís ismaʿili shia muslim northern hemisphere nowruz mark beginning spring custom festival include various fire water ritual celebratory dance gift exchange poetry recitation among others observance differ culture diverse community celebrate first day iranian calendar fall march equinox first day spring around march th century ad iranian calendar reformed omar khayyam order fix beginning calendar year ie nowruz vernal equinox accordingly definition nowruz given iranian astronomer tusi following first day official new year nowruz always day sun entered aries noon nowruz first day farvardin first month iranian solar calendar official calendar use iran formerly afghanistan united nation officially recognized international day nowruz adoption resolution united nation general assembly february word nowruz combination persian word نو meaning new روز ruz day pronunciation varies among persian dialect eastern dialect using pronunciation nawˈɾoːz dari classical persian however tajik navrūz written наврӯз western dialect nowˈɾuːz tehranis noːˈɾuːz variety spelling variation word nowruz exist englishlanguage usage including norooz novruz nowruz navruz nauruz newroz nowruz timing based vernal equinox iran day new year solar hijri algorithmic calendar based precise astronomical observation moreover use sophisticated intercalation system make accurate european counterpart gregorian calendar year great grand cycle contains normal year day leap year day average year length great grand cycle average ×− day—slightly second—shorter newcomb value mean tropical year day differs considerably current average vernal equinox year day mean new year intended fall vernal equinox would drift half day course cycle source explains year cycle erroneous never used practice chaharshanbe suri persian چهارشنبه‌سوری romanized čahâršanbeh suri lit festive wednesday prelude new year iran celebrated eve last wednesday nowruz usually celebrated evening performing ritual jumping bonfire lighting firecracker firework azerbaijan preparation novruz usually begin month earlier festival held every tuesday four week holiday novruz tuesday people celebrate day one four elements—water fire earth wind holiday eve graf relative visited tended iranian sing poetic line yellow red mine mean weakness strength persian سرخی تو از من، زردی من از تو romanized sorkhiye az man zardiye man az fire festival asking fire take away illhealth problem replace warmth health energy trail mix berry also served celebration spoon banging قاشق زنی qāšoq zani tradition observed eve charshanbe suri similar halloween custom trickortreating iran people wear disguise go doortodoor banging spoon plate bowl receive packaged snack azerbaijan child slip around neighbor home apartment last tuesday prior novruz knock door leave cap little basket threshold hiding nearby wait candy pastry nut ritual jumping fire continued armenia feast trndez feast purification armenian apostolic church armenian catholic church celebrated forty day jesus birth iran nowruz holiday last thirteen day thirteenth day new year iranian leave house enjoy nature picnic outdoors part sizdah bedar ceremony greenery grown haftsin setting thrown away usually running water also customary young single people especially young girl tie leaf greenery discarding expressing wish find partner another custom associated sizdah bedar playing joke prank similar april fool day exist various foundation myth nowruz iranian mythology shahnameh credit foundation nowruz mythical iranian king jamshid save mankind winter destined kill every living creature defeat killer winter jamshid constructed throne studded gem demon raise earth heaven sat shining like sun world creature gathered scattered jewel around proclaimed new day ruz first day farvardin first month iranian calendar although clear whether protoindoiranians celebrated feast first day calendar indication iranian may observed beginning autumn spring respectively related harvest sowing seed celebration new year mary boyce frantz grenet explain tradition seasonal festival comment possible splendor babylonian festivity season led iranian develop spring festival established new year feast name navasarda new year name though first attested middle persian derivative attributed achaemenian period akitu babylonian festivity held spring month nisan nowruz fall since communal observation ancient iranian appear general seasonal one related agriculture probable traditionally held festival autumn spring mark major turning point natural year nowruz partly rooted tradition iranian religion mithraism zoroastrianism mithraism festival deep linkage sun light iranian festival mehregan autumnal equinox tirgan eve chelle ye zemestan winter solstice also origin sun god mithra among idea zoroastrianism first monotheistic religion emphasizes broad concept corresponding work good evil world connection human nature zoroastrian practice dominant much history ancient iran zoroastrianism seven important zoroastrian festival six gahambar festival nowruz occurs spring equinox according mary boyce seems reasonable surmise nowruz holiest deep doctrinal significance founded zoroaster although clear date origin sunset day sixth gahambar sunrise nowruz hamaspathmaedaya later known extended form frawardinegan today known farvardigan celebrated gahambars festival named surviving text avesta thcentury scholar biruni work kitab altafhim li awail sinaat altanjim provides description calendar various nation besides iranian calendar various festival greek jew arab sabians nation mentioned book section iranian calendar mention nowruz sadeh tirgan mehrgan six gahambars farvardigan bahmanja esfand armaz several festival according belief iranian nowruz mark first day universe started motion persian historian gardizi work titled zayn alakhbār section zoroastrian festival mention nowruz among festival specifically point zoroaster highly emphasized celebration nowruz mehrgan although word nowruz recorded achaemenid inscription detailed account xenophon nowruz celebration taking place persepolis continuity festival achaemenid tradition nowruz important day achaemenid empire c – bc king different achaemenid nation would bring gift king king significance ceremony king cambyses ii appointment king babylon legitimized participation referred annual achaemenid festival celebration persepolis suggested famous persepolis complex least palace apadana hundred column hall built specific purpose celebrating feast related nowruz iranian jewish calendar bc jew came iranian rule thus exposing group others custom according encyclopædia britannica story purim told book esther adapted iranian novella shrewdness harem queen suggesting purim may adoption iranian new year specific novella identified encyclopedia britannica note jewish text genre persian period extant new element recognized inferentially purim celebrated adar usually within month nowruz date purim set according jewish calendar lunisolar nowruz occurs spring equinox possible jew iranian time may shared adopted similar custom holiday lunar new year middle east occurs nisan new moon first month spring usually fall within week nowruz legacy persian literature shahnameh tenthcentury poet ferdowsi narrates fictional account darius iii death injured darius head cradled alexander great’s thigh asks alexander wed roxana child might uphold nowruz keep flame zoroaster burning mother named roxana fair world found joy solace care perhaps glorious one shall rise shall renew name bold esfandiyār wise sacred flame zoroaster shall adorn zend avesta scripture hand borne feast sadeh auspicious rite hell keep splendor nowruz fire temple deep nowruz holiday parthian dynastic empire ruled iran bc– ad area ruled arsacid dynasty outside parthia arsacid dynasty armenia iberia specific reference celebration nowruz reign vologases – ad include detail sassanians established power western asia around ad parthian celebrated nowruz autumn first farvardin began autumn equinox reign parthian dynasty spring festival mehregan zoroastrian iranian festival celebrated honor mithra extensive record celebration nowruz appear following accession ardashir founder sasanian empire – ad sassanid emperor nowruz celebrated important day year royal tradition nowruz royal audience public cash gift pardoning prisoner established sassanid era persisted unchanged modern time nowruz along midwinter celebration sadeh survived muslim conquest persia ce celebration gahambars mehrgan eventually sidelined observed zoroastrian nowruz became main royal holiday abbasid period much like predecessor sasanian period dehqans would offer gift caliph local ruler nowruz mehragan festival following demise caliphate subsequent reemergence iranian dynasty samanids buyids nowruz became even important event buyids revived ancient tradition sassanian time restored many smaller celebration eliminated caliphate iranian buyid ruler adud aldawla r – customarily welcomed nowruz majestic hall decked gold silver plate vas full fruit colorful flower king would sit royal throne court astronomer would come forward kiss ground congratulate arrival new year king would summon musician singer invited friend gather enjoy great festive occasion later turkic mongol invader attempt abolish nowruz ce seljuq dynasty era group eight scholar led astronomer polymath omar khayyam calculated established jalali calendar computing year starting nowruz festival along mehregan widely celebrated alandalus andalusians th century onwards strongly identified many iranian tradition despite opposition maliki jurist also th century onwards nobility emir governor sponsored celebration festival however jurist beginning th century started encouraging andalusians celebrate mawlid instead collapse soviet union iran afghanistan country officially observed ceremony nowruz caucasian central asian country gained independence soviet also declared nowruz national holiday nowruz added unesco list intangible cultural heritage humanity house cleaning shaking house persian خانه تکانی romanized xāne tekāni commonly done arrival nowruz people start preparing nowruz major spring cleaning home buying new clothes wear new year well purchase flower hyacinth tulip popular conspicuous nowruz holiday people expected make short visit home family friend neighbor typically young people visit elder first elder return visit later visitor offered tea pastry cooky fresh dried fruit mixed nut snack many iranian throw large nowruz party way dealing long distance group friend family one common food cooked occasion nowruz samanu samanak somank somalek food prepared using wheat germ country celebrate nowruz food cooked country cooking food associated certain ritual woman girl different part iran afghanistan tajikistan turkmenistan uzbekistan cook samanu group sometimes night cooking sing memorable song cooking food also common nowruz example sabzi polo fish eaten eid night sweet nane nokhodchi general cooking nowruz food common every region nowruz celebrated area food sweet typically arrival nowruz family member gather around haftsin table await exact moment march equinox celebrate new year number letter related seven ameshasepantas mentioned zendavesta relate four element fire earth air water three life form human animal plant modern time explanation simplified mean haftsin persian هفت‌سین seven thing beginning letter sin س sabze persian سبزه – wheat barley mung bean lentil sprout grown dish samanu persian سمنو – sweet pudding made wheat germ persian olive persian سنجد romanized senjed vinegar persian سرکه romanized serke apple persian سیب romanized sib garlic persian سیر romanized sir sumac persian سماق romanized somāq haftsin table may also include mirror candle painted egg bowl water goldfish coin hyacinth traditional confectionery book wisdom quran bible avesta šāhnāme ferdowsi divān hafez may also included haftsins origin clear practice believed popularized past year afghanistan people prepare haft mēwa dari هفت میوه english seven fruit nauruz mixture seven different dried fruit nut raisin silver berry pistachio hazelnut prune walnut almond served syrup khoncha azerbaijani xonça traditional display novruz republic azerbaijan consists big silver copper tray tray green sprouting wheat samani middle dyed egg member family arranged around table least seven dish iran traditional herald festival nowruz amu nowruz haji firuz appear street celebrate new year amu nowruz brings child gift much like counterpart santa claus husband nane sarma share traditional love story meet year depicted elderly silverhaired man long beard carrying walking stick wearing felt hat long cloak blue canvas sash giveh linen trouser haji firuz character face hand covered soot clad bright red clothes felt hat companion amu nowruz dance street singing playing tambourine traditional song introduces serf trying cheer people refers lord folklore afghanistan kampirak retinue pas village village distributing gathered charity among people old bearded man wearing colorful clothes long hat rosary symbolizes beneficence power nature yielding force winter tradition observed central province specially bamyan daykundi kazakhstan kazakh start new year cooking nauryz kozhe traditional drink festival nowruz celebrated many group people black sea basin balkan south caucasus western asia central southern asia iranian people worldwide place nowruz public holiday include nowruz celebrated kurd iraq syria turkey well irani shia parsi indian subcontinent iranian diaspora nowruz also celebrated iranian community america europe including los angeles phoenix toronto cologne london phoenix arizona nowruz celebrated persian new year festival los angeles prone devastating fire strict fire code city usually iranian living southern california go beach celebrate event permissible build fire march united state house representative passed nowruz resolution hres – vote recognizing cultural historical significance nowruz nowruz mark afghanistan new year day solar hijri calendar official calendar afghanistan festival gulisurkh dari گل سرخ red flower principal festival nauruz celebrated mazarisharif first day year red tulip grow green plain hill surrounding city people country travel mazarisharif attend nauruz festival buzkashi tournament held gulisurkh festival mazarisharif kabul northern afghan city jahenda bala dari جهنده بالا raising celebrated first day new year religious ceremony performed blue mosque mazarisharif raising special banner resembling derafsh kaviani royal standard attended highranking government official vicepresident minister provincial governor biggest recorded nawroz gathering people afghanistan attending festival dehqān dari دهقان farmer also celebrated first day new year farmer walk city sign encouragement agricultural production recent year activity happens kabul major city mayor government official attend first two week new year citizen kabul hold family picnic istalif charikar green place redbud grow taliban regime – nauruz banned ancient pagan holiday centered fire worship march taliban said nauruz would public holiday year although allowed celebration take place nevruz celebrated annually albania march sultan nevruz albania festival commemorates birthday ali ibn abi talib died ce simultaneously advent spring prominent amongst nation bektashis adherent sunnism catholicism orthodoxy also share nevruz festival respect ecumenical spirit albania since th century nowruz generally celebrated armenian public holiday armenia however celebrated armenia ten thousand iranian tourist visit armenia relative ease influx tourist iran accelerated since around – alone around iranian spent nowruz capital yerevan president serzh sargsyan sent letter congratulation kurd living armenia iranian political leadership occasion nowruz azerbaijan nowruz celebration go several day included festive public dancing folk music sporting competition rural area crop holiday also marked additionally azerbaijani tradition weather first day novruz believed forecast season spring summer follows second day autumn third winter fourth community azerbaijani diaspora also celebrate nowruz u canada israel nowruz generally celebrated bangladeshi widely celebrated country shia muslim continues celebrated regularly dhaka chittagong rajshahi khulna mughal period nowruz celebrated day pomp gaiety shia muslim bangladesh seen spraying water around home drinking water keep protected disease congregation seek divine blessing also arranged member nawab family dhaka used celebrate amid pomp grandeur evening used float thousand candle light nearby pond water body national poet kazi nazrul islam also sunni portrayed vivid sketch festival highlighting various aspect poem described platform exposing youth physical mental beauty another opposite one conquering heart nowruz widely celebrated vast territory central asia ritual practice acquired special feature festival legitimized prayer mosque visit mazars muslim saint sacred stream emirate bukhara broad official celebration nowruz started amir muzaffar sought strengthen image manghyt dynasty crisis political legitimacy currently five central asian country tajikistan kyrgyzstan uzbekistan turkmenistan kazakhstan celebrate nowruz public holiday traditionally nowruz celebrated mainly china xinjiang uyghur autonomous region uyghurs chinese tajik salar kyrgyz kazakh ethnicity nowruz celebrated georgian widely celebrated country large azerbaijani minority total population well iranian living georgia every year large festivity held capital tbilisi well area significant number azerbaijani kvemo kartli kakheti shida kartli mtskhetamtianeti region georgian politician attended festivity capital year congratulated nowruzobserving ethnic group national georgia day nowruz tradition nowruz northern india date back mughal empire festival celebrated day pomp gaiety realm however go back parsi zoroastrian community western india migrated indian subcontinent persia muslim conquest persia – ce princely state hyderabad nowruz nauroz one four holiday nizam would hold public darbar along two official islamic holiday sovereign birthday prior asaf jahi rule hyderabad qutb shahi dynasty celebrated nowruz ritual called panjeri festival celebrated great grandeur popular deccani urdu poem written founder hyderabad muhammad quli qutb shah recited deccan region nauroz nowruz twoweek celebration mark beginning new year iran official solar hijri calendar celebration includes four public holiday first fourth day farvardin first month iranian calendar usually beginning march eve nowruz fire festival chaharshanbe suri celebrated following revolution radical element islamic government attempted suppress nowruz considering pagan holiday distraction islamic holiday nowruz politicized political leader making annual nowruz speech newroz largely considered potent symbol kurdish identity kurd turkey celebrate feast march kurd gather fairground mostly outside city welcome spring woman wear colored dress spangled head scarf young men wave flag green yellow red historic color kurdish people hold festival lighting fire dancing around newroz seen many ban turkey turkey strong long history trying suppress kurdish history culture celebrated legally since ban kurdish language lifted holiday officially allowed turkey international pressure turkish government lift culture ban turkish government renamed holiday nevroz however newroz celebration still suppressed lead continual confrontation turkish authority cizre nusyabin şırnak celebration turned violent turkish police force fired celebrating crowd recent year newroz celebration summons around million participant diyarbakır biggest city kurdish dominated southeastern turkey syria kurd dress national dress celebrate new year according human right watch kurd struggle celebrate newroz past celebration led violent oppression leading several death mass arrest syrian arab baathist government stated newroz celebration tolerated long become political demonstration newroz celebration three kurd shot dead syrian security force march attack syrian police killed two three people one yearold girl people wounded rojava revolution subsequent establishment de facto autonomous administration north east syria saw kurdish civil right greatly expand newroz celebrated freely kurdish area syria except efrin ritual longer allowed since occupation turkishbacked rebel group kurd iraq iran freedom celebrate newroz countryman syria turkey kurd diaspora also celebrate new year example kurd australia celebrate newroz beginning new year also kurdish national day similarly kurd finland celebrate new year way demonstrating support kurdish cause also london organizer estimated people celebrated newroz march canada largest kurdish newroz festival held ontario state city nashville tennessee includes largest kurdish population united state kurd celebrate newroz holding nashville festival dressed traditional clothing sing dance around fire family friend pakistan nowruz typically celebrated part gilgitbaltistan khyber pakhtunkhwa especially near border afghanistan across balochistan large celebration held capital quetta recently government iran participated hosting celebration islamabad commemorate holiday like india parsi ismaili community historically celebrated holiday shia muslim vibrant persian speaking immigrant community celebrating nowruz decade united state state california considered largest farsi speaking community country march gov gavin newsom issued proclamation declaring march day nowruz day follower zoroastrian faith include nowruz religious calendar follower faith shia literature refers merit day nowruz day ghadir took place nowruz fatwa major shia scholar recommend fasting nowruz also holy day sufi bektashis ismaili alawites alevis babis adherent baháʼí faith nawrúz one nine holy day adherent baháʼí faith worldwide first day baháʼí calendar occurring vernal equinox around march baháʼí calendar composed month day month named attribute god similarly day month also named attribute god first day first month given attribute bahá arabic word meaning splendour glory thus first day year day bahá month bahá baháʼulláh founder baháʼí faith explained nawrúz associated great name god instituted festival observed nineteenday fast day also used symbolize renewal time religious dispensation ʻabdulbahá baháulláhs son successor explained significance nawrúz term spring new life brings explained equinox symbol messenger god message proclaim like spiritual springtime nawrúz used commemorate baháʼí holy day fixed rule observing nawrúz baháʼís world celebrate festive day according local custom persian baháʼís still observe many iranian custom associated nowruz haftsin american baháʼí community example may potluck dinner along prayer reading baháʼí scripture along ismaili alawites alevis twelver shia also hold day nowruz high regard said musa alkadhim seventh twelver shia imam explained nowruz said nowruz god made covenant servant worship allow partner welcome messenger obey ruling day first day fertile wind blew flower earth appeared archangel gabriel appeared prophet day abraham broke idol day prophet muhammad held ali shoulder destroy quraishies idol house god kaaba day upon nowruz fall recommended day fasting twelver shia muslim shia scholar including abu alqasim alkhoei ruhollah khomeini ali alsistani day also assumes special significance shia said march ad first shia imam ali assumed office caliphate shia imami ismaili muslim around globe celebrate nowruz religious festival special prayer majalis arranged jamatkhanas special food cooked people share best wish prayer mozaffari ali akbar ali august heritage diplomacy soft power competition iran turkey competing claim rumi nowruz international journal cultural policy – doi issn nowruz encyclopædia iranica