Sydney: Nowruz (meaning “new day” in the Persian language) is the Iranian, or Persian, festival celebrating the coming of spring – and the regeneration it brings.
It is the first day of the year in the Iranian solar calendar (which began in 1079), marking the exact moment of the spring equinox. The date varies, between March 19 and 21 – this year, it’s March 21.
Within Iran, this year’s Nowruz will be especially emotionally charged, as its cities are under bombardment by Israel and the United States, leaving nearly 1,500 dead since February 28. By celebrating, Iranians will be reaffirming their unique identity and deep-rootedness in their homeland.
Rooted in the Middle East and Central Asia, Nowruz is celebrated in countries that were once part of the Iranian empires, including Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, and the Caucasus region, particularly Azerbaijan.
Iranian culture was absorbed and integrated into local cultures during the pre-modern period, and it often remained as these territories were gradually lost. This wider sphere of Iranian influence is called Iranzamin or “Great Iran.”
When Nowruz was first established, during the early period of the pre-Islamic Sassanian dynasty (224–651 CE), it was celebrated throughout the Persian Empire.
In Iran, the span of Nowruz is two weeks, with a four-day national holiday. Happily for students, schools are closed. In some other countries that celebrate the festival, government and retail sectors are closed, and public ceremonies and gatherings are common.
