Introduction to Nowruz

Book excerpt: Nowruz is the Persian New Year. It has been celebrated for over 3,000 years in Iran and other parts of Central Asia, as well as by the Parsis in India. The holiday falls on the Spring Equinox, typically on March 20th or 21st. Nowruz marks the beginning of the spring season, as well as the beginning of a new year according to the Persian calendar. The celebration of Nowruz includes a range of traditions, such as the setting of a haft-sin table with seven items that start with the Persian letter "sin," symbolic of the seven creations and the seven holy immortals in Zoroastrianism, the traditional religion of Iran. The holiday also involves spring cleaning, the exchange of gifts, and the gathering of families and friends for a festive meal. Nowruz is recognized as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity and is celebrated in many countries around the world by people of Iranian and Central Asian descent.