Nowruz or "New Day" is a Zoroastrian celebration of the new year dating back over three thousand years, originating in Persia or what is now modern day Iran. It is a yearly holiday to celebrate the spring equinox, and what is believed to be the new year according to the Iranian solar calendar. While it is most prominently celebrated by Iranians and people of Iranian descent, Nowruz is celebrated all over the world by many different ethnic groups and nationalities, in various Middle Eastern countries as well as many western nations by immigrant communities. Despite having its roots in the ancient Zoroastrian religion, Nowruz is celebrated by millions of people of various religions marking it as both a religious and cultural holiday. Nowruz is an incredibly significant cultural holiday for many people across the world, especially to those like myself who have experienced cultural displacement as a result of the diaspora, and has been a symbol of cultural preservation in the face of ideological oppression.   

 

In the various pages on this site you will learn about many of the traditions and rituals associated with this holiday as well as their significances within Iranian culture, history, and politics. You may explore each page in whatever order you choose, but they are organized chronologically according to the timeline of the traditional Nowruz celebration.

 

You may click "Learn More" to jump to the first Nowruz tradition: Chaharshanbe Suri - the fire festival.