Nowruz

Persian-Zoroastrian; Spring Equinox Festival

Nowruz is the world's oldest documented festival, with roots stretching back over 3,000 years to pre-Zoroastrian Indo-Iranian rituals. In the Avesta, Nowruz is linked to the Fravashis (ancestral spirits). During the Achaemenid era, Persepolis served as the center of Nowruz celebrations, with reliefs showing delegations from 23 nations of the empire presenting gifts to the King of Kings. The festival reached its peak splendor during the Parthian and Sassanid periods. Under the Sassanids, celebrations lasted from the 1st to 6th of Farvardin, with the 6th day called 'Great Nowruz' (Nowruz-e Bozorg), when the king held public audience, prisoners were freed, and debts forgiven. After the Arab conquest, Iranians preserved Nowruz despite cultural pressures. During the Islamic period, the 'Haft-Shin' table (with wine/شراب) transformed into 'Haft-Seen.' Today, Nowruz is celebrated across Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Kurdistan, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, and Iranian diaspora communities worldwide.

Khouneh-Tekouni (House Cleaning): Deep cleaning before Nowruz symbolizes purification and renewal. This tradition stems from the Zoroastrian belief that Fravashis (ancestral spirits) visit homes during this time.

Setting the Haft-Seen: Arranging seven items starting with "S" (Seen) on a special tablecloth. Originally it was "Haft-Shin" with seven items starting with "Sh."

The Original Haft-Shin: The pre-Islamic Nowruz table was "Haft-Shin" (Seven Sh's): Sharab (wine, symbolizing joy), Sham (candle, Ahura Mazda's light), Shekar (sugar, sweetness of life), Shirini (sweets), Shir (milk, purity), Shahd (honey), and Shakheh (branch/flower).

Buying New Clothes: Wearing new attire for the new year.

Eid Didani (Visiting): Visiting elders, family, and friends. The order of visits matters: elders are visited first.

Eidi (Gifts): Elders give money or gifts to younger family members, symbolizing the transfer of blessings across generations.

Growing Sabzeh: Sprouting wheat or lentils weeks in advance.

Chaharshanbe Suri: The last Tuesday of the year, jumping over bonfires saying "My yellowness to you, your redness to me."

Sizdah Bedar: The 13th day of Farvardin, tying sabzeh knots and going to nature.

• Haft-Seen (Modern)

Sabzeh (Sprouts): Symbol of rebirth—usually wheat, lentil, or mung bean

Samanu (Sweet Pudding): Symbol of power and blessing—made from wheat sprouts

Senjed (Oleaster): Symbol of love and affection—fruit of the oleaster tree

Sir (Garlic): Symbol of health and warding off illness

Sib (Apple): Symbol of beauty and health

Serkeh (Vinegar): Symbol of patience and wisdom—its aging represents patience

Sekkeh (Coins): Symbol of wealth and prosperity

• Haft-Shin (Original Persian)

Sharab (Wine): Symbol of joy and spiritual intoxication—sacred in ancient Nowruz

Sham' (Candle): Symbol of Ahura Mazda's light and triumph of light over darkness

Shekar (Sugar): Symbol of sweetness of life

Shirini (Sweets): Symbol of life's pleasures

Shir (Milk): Symbol of purity and nourishment

Shahd (Honey): Symbol of healing and nature's power

Shakheh (Branch/Flower): Symbol of growth and new life

• Other Symbols

Mirror: Symbol of light, truth, and inner reflection

Colored Eggs: Symbol of fertility—each color carries meaning

Goldfish: Symbol of life and Pisces—the last zodiac sign of winter

Orange in Water: Symbol of Earth floating in the cosmos

Book (Hafez, Shahnameh, or Avesta): Symbol of wisdom and culture

Ajil (Mixed Nuts): Symbol of blessing and abundance

Sabzi Polo ba Mahi: Herbed rice with fish, the main New Year's Eve dish

Kuku Sabzi: Herb frittata symbolizing greenery

Reshteh Polo: Rice with noodles for untangling life's problems

Ash Reshteh: Noodle soup for success and fortune

Dolmeh: Stuffed grape leaves

Baklava and Nowruz Pastries: Traditional sweets

Ajil: Special mixed nuts and dried fruits

Nowruz Pirouz! (Victorious Nowruz!)

Wishing you a year full of joy and health

Jashn-e-tan Khojasteh (Blessed Celebration)

Sal-e No Mobarak (Happy New Year)

Sad Sal be in Sal-ha (A hundred years of such years)

Omr-e-tan Deraz (Long life to you)

Nowruz-o Sal-o Fal-o Mehregan-at Khorram (From Ferdowsi's Shahnameh)

Health and happiness in the New Year is our wish

Nowruz is the only Iranian festival on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list (2009). In 2010, the UN declared March 21st as 'International Nowruz Day.' The Persepolis reliefs show delegations from across the Achaemenid Empire traveling to Persepolis for Nowruz. The exact moment of the new year is the vernal equinox—when the sun crosses the celestial equator. Ancient Persians named it 'Now' (new) + 'Ruz' (day). In the Avesta, Nowruz is linked to the Fravashis (spirits of ancestors) who return to earth at this time. The original Nowruz table was 'Haft-Shin' (seven items starting with 'Sh'), which changed to 'Haft-Seen' after the Arab conquest.