Norooz means new day or daylight. The spellings and pronunciations of Norooz vary, depending on the culture. It symbolizes the first day of spring, at the time of the spring equinox, when sunlight is divided equally between northern and southern hemispheres. This traditional Iranian holiday is not only celebrated within Iran. It is also celebrated in Turkey, Afghanistan, Albania, the countries of Central Asia, Georgia and Azerbaijan, to name a few. It usually is celebrated on the 21st of March of each year, but can be celebrated either a day before or after this date, depending on where it is observed. Besides being a Zoroastrian holiday, Norooz has significance for the Bahai’i religion and Sufism
In the article "The New Year of Iranian Peoples", author Dr. Ali Jafari, states that Norooz had its origins some fifteen thousand years ago, during the reign of the mythical Persian King Jamshid. Since life, at that time, revolved around the seasons, spring was seen as a time of new growth, new life and that of abundance. According to Dr. Jafari, it was Jamshid who introduced and started the Norooz celebrations. The prophet Zoroaster, however, later added and put in place the many additional festivals and rituals associated with this celebration. To Zoroastrians, Norooz was a celebration of Ahura Mazda and the Holy Fire
Twelve centuries later, in 487 BC, the Persian emperor Darius celebrated Norooz festivities at Persepolis. Much of the palace was adorned with statues depicting this celebration. It was here, that Norooz became a very special celebration, and it has been suggested that Persepolis may have been built for the purpose of celebrating Norooz. After Darius, Norooz traditions continued through the Parthian and Sassanid dynasties. It survived the introduction of Islam in 650AD and continued to be celebrated through the subsequent Turkish and Mongol invasions
Norooz today is commemorated by several events. First, as the spring equinox approaches, all Persian families do a spring cleaning and buy new items, such as clothes. The disposal of the old, with the replacement of the new, symbolizes rebirth during the spring. Also, the night before the last Wednesday of the Persian calendar is the traditional Iranian Festival of Fire. This festival dates back to Zoroastrian times and symbolizes the celebration of the good (light) over the bad (darkness). Small fires are made in the streets and people jump over the fires to symbolically rid themselves of sickness and problems. The fire, in turn, replaces health and good luck to those who jump over it.
At home, a traditional table containing the seven S’s or haft seen is prepared. Seven items, which start with the letter S in Farsi, are placed on this table, each symbolizing different aspects of life. The table is adorned ornately, for it not only has spiritual value to those that make it, but also represents their good taste. On Norooz, family members gather around the haft seen and wait for the exact moment of the spring equinox, at which time gifts are exchanged. The families spend the rest of Norooz visiting close family, relatives and friends, with a number of short visits. Traditionally, the youngest of the family visits the eldest member first. As the day goes on the eldest will reciprocate and repay his respects to the younger family members. Visits are typically short and are highlighted with many varieties of sweets and pastries.
Thirteen days after Norooz, Iranian families mark the occasion with a picnic outdoors. At some time during the picnic, home grown lentil sprouts are thrown into running water to symbolize the removal of all bad luck and ill-will. This day officially marks the end of all the Norooz festivities
Norooz is a holiday tradition that is in harmony with the rebirth of nature. The celebration encompasses the ancient concept of good versus bad, as well as death and rebirth. Norooz truly is one of the most important events in Iranian culture and is celebrated by many throughout the world
Iranian New Year,Noruz(1)
Esfand( feb.20-mar.20) is a month you can see sth like a revolution everywhere you take a look, but you can see this sense more intensively in mothers, the housewives in chief, who are in a hurry to clean the house for New Year, while they show no mercy to anybody who is slothful:):):)
Of course, Iranian clean their houses during the year , but it is "Khane Tekani"_ house cleaning_ this time and all parts of house should be cleaned entirely before Noruz. It's really an arduous task and sucks!:):):)
Anyhow, after mothers did their major task, "Khane Tekani", and took a rest they start to prepare "Sabze", a plate of recently germinated seed. They put some wheat or lentil seeds in a plate while a slightly wet cloth is over it and moisten it every day. In the coming days the seeds will germinate and grow till the first day of spring.
On the night of last Tuesday of the old year we have "CHaharshanbe Suri" ceremony in which people let a few fireworks off and pile some dried bushes up and fire them. While they jumping the burning bushes over, they say these sentences:
(sorkhi-e-to az man ) give me your beautiful red color
(zardi-e-man az to) and take back my sickly pallor.
In the last nightfall and night of the old year you can see"Haji Firuz" in the streets. " Haji Firuz" is a minstrel man, dresses entirely in red, colors his face black, dons a red hat too, plays tambourine, recites special poems and raises his hat when people give him Eidi(money).
At this time in the year streets are very crowded because people go to bazaars, markets, arcades or malls, shops, etc, to buy sth new for their house, for example decorative objects, settee or sofa, new curtain, or I don’t know anything they need and some new clothes for their children and themselves course, because it's a custom to wear even a new dress at "Sal Tahvil",the exact time of the New Year, when the old year changes to a new one.
In Iranian culture seven is a holy number. So we arrange close to the New Year's seconds, seven items with an initial letter" س" sounds "s" on a "Sofre"-table cloth-and we call it "Haft Seen" (seven "S"es)
Do you remember "Sabze"? now it is ready and have grown well. Now decorated with a red ribbonو"Sabze" is one of the seven items of "Haft seen" combination. Other "S" sound items are:
Seeb(apple) Serke(vinegar) Samanu( a sweet paste made out of wheat) Senjed(service)- a kind of berry, Sekke(coin) and Seer(garlic).
follow me to the next part;););)