Nowruz - Persian New Year
The Persian calendar is linked to the solar cycles, unlike other lunar calendars. This means that the time of the Persian New Year differs every year.
What is the Nowruz Persian New Year?
The Nowruz New Year, otherwise known as the Persian New Year, is the name used for the Iranian New Year’s Day.
Every year the Nowruz Persian New Year is celebrated by millions of Iranians and non-Iranians all around the world by giving their homes a polish and wishing for good luck in the New Year.
In 2010, the United Nations formally recognised the Nowruz Persian New Year as an international holiday.
When is Nowruz Persian New Year Celebrated?
The Nowruz Persian New Year marks the day of the March equinox (i.e. the beginning of Spring). The equinox usually happens between 19-21st March. This year (2019) it will occur on the evening of March 20th.
Before this exact day, however, there is much anticipation and preparation for the event. So, unlike a Western New Year which is over in one evening, the Persian New Year is dragged out over a few days.
Who celebrates Nowruz Persian New Year?
Nowruz Persian New Year has Iranian and Zoroastrian (one of the world’s oldest religions) origins.
Despite this, is celebrated all over the globe by various countries and communities. This includes a wide range of countries in Western and Central Asia, as well as the Balkans and the Caucasus.
Where Did Nowruz Persian New Year Come From?
The Nowruz Persian New Year is much older than the one celebrated in the Gregorian calendar, which is in its 2019th year of celebrations.
It is not known exactly how long the Nowruz has been celebrated for, but best estimates guess at over 3,000 years.