It is almost springtime, which means it is also time for Nowruz, the first day of the New Year in Iran. Nowruz literally means “new day” and takes place on the first day of spring, which occurs on March 20th or 21st. An ancient holiday, Nowruz is celebrated in many countries from Azerbaijan and Afghanistan to Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, with each region and city celebrating in their own unique ways.
Nowruz festivities in Iran begin the weeks before and last for thirteen days after people ring in the new year. In anticipation of the new year, people shop for gifts, spring clean their homes, and buy new clothes. They prepare a special table setting called Sofreh-ye Haft Seen (the Seven S-Spread) and celebrate the last Wednesday-eve of the year with a bonfire festival known as ChÄhÄrshanbeh Suri or Red Wednesday. In the hours leading up to Nowruz, street performers can be seen walking about counting the hours and minutes until the new year.
Nowruz begins at the moment of the vernal equinox, when the earth is tilted so that there are equal number of hours in the day and at night. In Iran, families gather around the Sofreh-ye Haft Seen and read famous poems, passages from the famous epic, the ShÄhnÄmeh (Book of Kings), or verses from the QurÄn. As the new year approaches, the countdown begins. When the vernal equinox occurs, families wish each other a happy Nowruz. After, adults give money to the children in the family. After a delicious meal of sabzi-polo mÄhi (fried fish served with a garlic and herb infused pilaf), people visit relatives and friends and bring them gifts and wish them a happy new year. The festivities last for thirteen days when schools, government offices, and some businesses are closed. Families will take the opportunity to travel around the country, visiting family, friend, and ancient sites. On the thirteenth day, the last day of the holidays, people celebrate Sizdeh be dar (which roughly translates to “out the door on the thirteenth”) when they spend the whole day picnicking at a park.
Here is a closer look at the festivals:
ChÄhÄrshanbeh SurÄ«
On the last Wednesday-eve of the year, Iranians celebrate ChÄhÄrshanbeh SurÄ«, Red Wednesday, a bonfire festival. People light a bonfire and jump over it, asking the fire to keep them healthy during the year by chanting zardi-e man be to, sorkhi-e to be man (literally, “my yellowness to you, your redness to me). This is based on an ancient belief that fire is a purifying element.
Image Credit: Unsplash
Sofreh-ye Haft Seen
The most recognizable aspect of Nowruz is the Sofreh-ye Haft Seen (The Seven S-Spread). The sofreh itself is a patterned fabric and symbolic items that are believed to bring good luck, health, and prosperity are arranged on it. You will usually see a mirror, votives, sweets, colored eggs, flowers (tulips and hyacinth), and goldfish. The seven (haft) most important symbolic items are those that begin with the letter “s” (seen), hence its name, Sofreh-ye Haft Seen. These items are sprouted greens (sabzeh), apples (seeb), garlic (seer), coins (sekeh), vinegar (serkeh), sumac (somaq), and germinated wheat-sprout (samanu). A plate of mixed green herbs (sabzi), walnuts, and goat cheese can complete the Sofreh-ye Haft Seen and is eaten as a light snack after the new year has begun.
Image Credit: Flickr
Sizdeh be dar
It is generally considered unlucky to stay indoors on the thirteenth day of the new year, so families will gather together at a park and picnic the whole day. People will either bring whole meals or beef-cutlet sandwiches to enjoy with tea and mixed dried fruits and nuts (ajeel), and fresh fruits. Adults play popular card and board games such as pasur (a fishing card game) and takht-e nard (backgammon) while children play some informal soccer. Usually, before families return home, they will toss the sprouted greens (sabzeh) into a nearby body of water and release the goldfish.
Image Credit: Freepik.com
Popular Nowruz Greetings:
- Nowruz piruz baad: may (your) Nowruz be victorious. Sometimes this is shortened to Nowruz piruz (a victorious Nowruz)
- Nowruz mobarak (happy Nowruz)
- ŹæAyd mobarak (happy holiday)
Ghazzal Dabiri is an Iranist who has written and published on medieval tales of kinship, kingship, and sainthood. She holds a PhD from UCLA and has taught Persian language, culture, and literature at various institurions. Her most recent publications are the edited volumes Narrating Power and Authority in Late Antique and Medieval Hagiography across East and West (Brepols) and Thecla and Medieval Sainthood: The Acts of Paul and Thecla in Eastern and Western Hagiography (Cambridge University Press) (co-edited).
