Happy Nowruz | Persians New Year

In a few days spring will arrive and Persians everywhere will be celebrating Nowruz, first day of spring, and of its beauty and pleasant weather. This is the season to be in harmony with nature and put away the old and look forward to a new beginning. This is also the time to allow the warmth of the sun to help rejuvenate our creativity and shed the layers of dormancy. Starting from the time of the first Zoroastrians, this is the season that ancient Persians celebrated this changing of the season with well wishes for each other and for all that nature had provided for them.

 

The early Persians had a great appreciation for nature and the four seasons, and respected the earth, the sun, and the Supreme Being.
To this day, the precise moment that spring arrives is celebrated by following the virtually unchanged rituals that were observed hundreds of years ago in a ceremony called Nowruz, which means New Day.

 

The preparation for this day begins a few days prior to the arrival of spring in another ceremony to bid goodbye to the old year with whatever ailment or unhappiness that entailed. This ceremony is called Chaharshanbeh Suri, which is a festival of fire. The festivities begin on the evening of the last Tuesday of the year and continues until the early morning hours of Wednesday (Chaharshanbeh). Small bonfires symbolizing light, warmth and energy are built and while jumping over these fires you can hear this song: “Zardi ye man az to, sorkhi ye to az man,” which translates to: Take away all of my ailment and give me your health and energy. The evening is filled with joy, merry songs, and eating good food with family members.