NOOROZ
In harmony with rebirth of nature, the Persian New Year Celebration,
or Norooz, always begins on the first day of spring, March 20th of
each year. Norooz ceremonies are symbolic representations of two
ancient concepts - the End and Rebirth. About 3000 years ago
Persian's major religion was Zoroastrianism, named in honor of its
founder Zoroaster, and arguably the world's first monotheistic
religion. Zoroastrians had a festival called "Farvardgan" which lasted
ten days, and took place at the end of the solar year. It appears that
this was a festival of sorrow and mourning , signifying the end of life
while the festival of Norooz, at the beginning of spring signified
rebirth, and was a time of great joy and celebration. Norooz was
officially acknowledged and named "Norooz" by mythical Persian
emperor, Shah Jamshid, from Achaemenid Dynasty (500 BC).
Ashaemenied created the first major empire in the region and built
Persepolis complex (Takhte Jamshid) in the city of Shiraz. Norooz in
Persian means "New Day" and brings hope, peace and prosperity to
the world and has been celebrated among people regardless of
ethnic background, political views or religion in many countries
around the globe such as Iran, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Turkey,
Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Georgia, Iraq, Tajikistan, Syria ,Armenia and
India. Some of the activities during Norooz are Spring cleaning,
buying new cloths, painting eggs, family reunion, giving presents,
visiting neighbors and friends and celebrating by having a picnic on
the 13th day of Spring.
Happy Norooz