literary english essays - ,متون ادبی انگلیسی,

[مهبا]

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