Nowruz, that is on Farvardin first, is the beginning day of the New Iranian Year and one of the oldest celebrations left from antiquity. The origin of Nowruz is in ancient Iran and people still celebrate Nowruz in different parts of the Iran’s plateau. At the beginning of spring we hold Nowruz celebration. In Iran and Afghanistan that the Solar Hijri calendar is used in, it is officially the beginning of the New Year. But in many other countries that Gregorian calendar is used it is the celebration of beginning of spring. When death earth starts to breathe again, life comes back to nature, people are getting ready for New Year, and children are the happiest. A long lasting holiday is coming for them. Older people give them money as a gift for New Year. There is so much to do in New Year holiday and even before it. There are many ceremonies we hold every year like:
1. Jumping Festival (Chaharshanbe Soori):
It is an ancient celebration dates back to Iran before Islam, when Zoroastrianism that is one of the world’s oldest continuously practiced religions was the most popular religion in Iran. The philosophy behind Jumping Festival comes from the Zoroastrianism, that fire is sacred in it. People jump over the fire and sing a song which mean “get all my yellowness (illness symbol) and give me your redness (health symbol). Sadness go please! Happiness come to us! “
2. House cleaning (Khune Tekuni):
It isn’t like a ceremony, but it’s one of the traditions that Iranian hold every year before Nowruz. All the family members gather together to wash the carpets, curtains and dishes swipe the floors and dust all the glasses, walls and furniture. It normally takes two to four days to clean all the house. Finally everything in the house is cleaned and washed. For Iranian, it is a symbolic action they do to clean their hearts and get rid of all bad vibes.
3. Seven-S Table Setting (Haft-sin):
This is the most exciting part! It’s something like decorating Christmas tree! All family members gather together to do this, they grow a plate of wheat named “Sabze” which is the symbol of rebirth and living again, almost a couple of weeks before Nowruz to put it on Haft-Sin table. There are ten items on Haft-Sin table. The name of seven items start with letter “s” in Persian, which are apple, coin, hyacinths, sumac, samanu, garlic, Vinegar. Each item is a symbol. They symbols of life, the health, beauty, rebirth and generosity. There some more items that they have been added to Haft-Sin table through the time, like Koran which has been added after Islam entered to Iran. Mirror, Hafez’s poems book, colored eggs and sweets.
4. Nature day (Sizdah-Bedar):
People go to picnic with their families on Farvardin (the first Persian month) thirteenth. They chat, laugh, eat, drink and play together.
