Results: Nowruz Pirouz! That's May It Be A Victorious New Year For The Persian New Year

This Wednesday, spring will begin at 5:58 p.m. EDT for all, but for the Persian community, this will also mark the start of their new year. Nowruz, which literally translates into "New Day" marks the beginning of the Persian new year, which lasts for 13 days. The holiday, which dates back 3,000 years, is rooted in Zoroastrianism – an ancient Iranian religion that influenced later religions including Christianity, Judaism and Islam. Nowruz is considered one of the largest celebrations of the year with Iranians of all religions, or no religions, taking part in the festivities. Do you or do you know someone who celebrates Nowruz?

Before Nowruz begins, on the last Tuesday night before the New Year, Chahar Shanbe Suri is celebrated to cast away the misfortunes of the past year. Participants jump over bonfires which symbolizes inviting happiness and abundance while releasing and letting go of darkness and negativity. Have you ever been to a Chahar Shanbe Suri celebration?

A major part of the New Year celebration involves setting the "Haft Seen." also known as the seven S's. The traditional table setting includes seven items that all begin with the letter "seen" in the Persian alphabet. "Seeb" or apple (promotes beauty and good health), "seer" or garlic (wards off bad omen), "samanou" (a sweet pudding, symbolizing affluence), "sabze" or wheat-germ (representing rebirth) grown in a flat dish a few days before the New Year, "sek-keh" or coin, preferably gold (for wealth and abundance), "senjed" (dried fruit from lotus tree, symbolizing love), and "somagh" or sumac (color of sunrise). In addition, there will also be a mirror (symbol for the sky), lit candles symbolizing fire and promoting enlightenment, colored eggs (symbol of fertility corresponding to the mother earth), sweets to spread sweetness and a book of poems by Hafiz or Rumi. Have you ever seen a Haft-Seen displayed during this time of year, and wondered what it meant?

Of course, no Persian celebration would be complete without the food. Persian food is flavorful, colorful and always abundant at this time of year. Traditionally, herb infused rice served with fish, or Sabzi Polow ba mahi. is served for New Years, along with traditional pastries, and mixtures of nuts and dried fruit. Have you ever eaten at a Persian restaurant or Persian food at someone's home?

On the 13th day, known as Sizdah Bedar (which means "out with the 13th) it's typical for families to spend the day outside. Iranians are known to go to parks for a picnic, since it is believed that remaining outdoors will help one avoid misfortune. Another tradition involves throwing green sprouts into rivers and lakes to symbolize the rebirth of plants and the end of the New Year festivities. Of course, in Canada and the United States, the weather on April 1st is not always conducive to being outside, but every year our family hosts a big BBQ on that day (or a weekend day closest to it) and at least spend some time outdoors. If your city or town has a sizable Persian population have you ever seen the groups of people BBQing or picnicking in local parks on April 1st?

Although Nowruz has its roots in an ancient religion, the holiday itself has evolved and now is completely secular, a celebration of renewal and nature. In fact, in Iran, the Islamic Republic Regime would like nothing better than to stop all Nowruz celebrations, which go against everything this government believes in. In recent years, with the unrest and growing anti-government movement in the country, more and bigger Nowruz celebrations take place every year. Would you enjoy being a part of a Nowruz celebration, if you had the opportunity?