EMAD SEDEGHINEZAD

MARCH 2009

NoroozIranian New Year

AbstractAbstract•Nowrūz (Persian: نوروز /noʊruz/ ↔ [noʊɾuːz]; Kurdish: Newroz; with various local pronunciations and spellings, meaning 'New Day') is the traditional Iranian new year holiday celebrated by Iranian and many other peoples in West Asia, Central Asia, South Asia, Northwestern China, the Caucasus, the Crimea, and in Albania, Bosnia, Kosovo and the Republic of Macedonia.

•Nowruz marks the first day of spring and the beginning of the Iranian year. It is celebrated on the day of the astronomical vernal equinox (the start of spring in the northern hemisphere), which usually occurs on March 21 or the previous/following day depending on where it is observed. As well as being a Zoroastrian holiday, it is also a holy day for adherents of the Bahá'í Faith. In Iran it is also referred to as an Eid festival, although it is not an Islamic feast. Alawites and Nizari Ismaili Muslims also celebrate Nowruz.

•The term Nowruz first appeared in Persian records in the second century AD, but it was also an important day during the time of the Achaemenids (c. 648-330 BC), where kings from different nations under the Persian empire used to bring gifts to the emperor (Shahanshah) of Persia on Nowruz.

Iranian New Year (Norooz)Iranian New Year (Norooz)

• Norooz means New Day• End and rebirth • First day of the spring & beginning of Iranian Calendar• Falls on Spring Equinox (usually occurs on March 21st every

year)

Norooz Celebrating CountriesNorooz Celebrating Countries

Azerbaijan

Albania

Afghanistan

Northwestern China

Georgia

India

Iran

Kyrgyzstan

Kazakhstan

Lebanon

PakistanSyriaTajikistanTurkeyTurkmenistanUzbekistan

Norooz and its TraditionsNorooz and its Traditions

• Traditionally goes back approximately

15000 years ago after the end of the

last ice age

• Symbolized by King Jamshid

• We get ready for Norooz by:• Cleaning our houses (Khaneh-Tekani)• Buying new clothing• Buying gifts for family and friends

Norooz and its TraditionsNorooz and its Traditions

• Celebrating Last Wednesday

or Chaharshanbeh Souri• Getting fresh sweets and fruits to our guests• Putting together our Haft-Seen• Being forgiving and kind

Last WednesdayLast Wednesday

• Symbolized by

King Jamshid

• Celebrated on last Tuesday night

of the year by jumping over fire.

• Prepares people for a peaceful

and forgiving New Year.

• The main idea is to get the energy and positive glow from the fire and give all bad feelings to the fire.

Chaharshanbeh Souri

Haft-Seen (7 S’s)Haft-Seen (7 S’s)

Haft-Seen (7 S’s)Haft-Seen (7 S’s)

• Haft-Seen means seven items starting with letter “S” such as:

• Sabzeh (grown wheat): Rebirth

• Samanu (wheat germ pudding): Affluence

• Senjed (dried fruit of oleaster tree): Love

• Seer (garlic): Good health

• Sib (apple): Beauty

• Somag (sumac): Color of sunrise

• Serkeh (vinegar): Age and patience

• Haft-Seen are put together before the Norooz count down

Haft-Seen (7 S’s)Haft-Seen (7 S’s)

Other items on the table may include:

• Sonbol Hyacinth (plant)• Sekkeh Coins representative of wealth• traditional Iranian pastries such as baghlava, toot, naan-

nokhodchi • Aajeel - dried nuts, berries and raisins • lit candles (enlightenment and happiness) • a mirror (symbolizing cleanness and honesty) • decorated eggs, sometimes one for each member of the

family (fertility) • a bowl of water with goldfish (life within life, and the sign of

Pisces which the sun is leaving) • rosewater, believed to have magical cleansing powers • the national colors, for a patriotic touch • a holy book (e.g., the Avesta, Qur'an, Bible, Torah, or Kitáb-

i-Aqdas) and/or a poetry book (almost always either the

Shahnama or the Divan of Hafez)

Haft-Seen (7 S’s)Haft-Seen (7 S’s)

Haft-Seen (7 S’s)Haft-Seen (7 S’s)

Pray after Pray after Norooz count down

Norooz and HistoryNorooz and History

• Picture of Persepolis all nations stairway 486-465 BC• People are bringing Norooz gifts to the king of Persia

Thirteenth Day of NoroozThirteenth Day of Norooz

• First thirteen days of New Year are Holidays

• Thirteenth day of Norooz is called

“Sizdah Bedar” meaning to get rid of thirteen

(13), which envisions bad luck or omen

• Sizdah Bedar is the day of festivity and

family picnic

• Sabzeh is supposed to collect all the illness

& pain of new year

• Sabzeh is thrown out at the end of the day

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Last Wednesday celebration

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Norooz shoping

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Norooz shoping

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Haji Firooz is the announcer of Norooz's arrivel while Amoo Norooz

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Norooz parade 2006 in New York City

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Norooz parade 2006 in New York City

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Norooz parade

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Norooz parade 2006 in New York City

Summary • Norooz means New Day• We get ready for Norooz• Haft-Seen means seven• Thirteenth day of Norooz

ReferencesReferences http://www.wikipedia.org

http://www.crystalinks.com

http://www.iranica.com

http://www.2shared.com/file/5039474/c5ddfd8/Norooz.html