NOWRUZ

Nowruz, Persian New Year
Year of 2565 (1385)

In harmony with rebirth of nature, the Persian New Year Celebration, or Nowruz, always begins on the first day of spring, March 20th of each year. Nowruz 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 Nowruz, at the beginning of spring signified rebirth, and was a time of great joy and celebration. Nowruz was officially acknowledged and named "Nowruz" 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. Nowruz 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 Nowruz 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 Nowruz!



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Nowruz International Cultural Foundation, Toronto, Canada

Copyright © 2005. All rights reserved.
Iranian New Year, 2565 (1385), begins on Monday March 20, 2006
Tehran:09:55:35 PM , Toronto:01:25:35 PM , Los Angeles:10:25:35 AM , London:07:25:35 PM , Sidney:06:25:35 AM

Please copy the following message about Nowruz and send it to your non Persian friends and the media in your town. With your help, we could send the message of Nowruz which is hope, peace and prosperity to everyone in the world and make Nowruz an International event. Would you please join us.

Nowruz (The proper spelling of the Iranian New Year) Upon the recommendation of prominent Iranian scholars, most Iranian societies and foundations outside Iran, Iranian Cultural Heritage Organization and Cultural Research Bureau (Tehran), and upon the approval of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and most importantly, for the consistency within the International Iranian Community, we should all write the name of the Iranian New Year with this spelling: Nowruz ====================================