Thu Mar 20 08:19:13 UTC 2025: ## Millions Celebrate Nowruz, the Ancient Persian New Year
**Tehran, Iran** – Millions across Iran and numerous other countries are celebrating Nowruz, the Persian New Year, a 3,000-year-old festival marking the arrival of spring and symbolizing renewal and prosperity. Observed for millennia, the 13-day celebration unites communities in Iran, Central Asia, the Caucasus, the Balkans, and parts of the Middle East.
Nowruz, meaning “New Day” in Persian, falls on the spring equinox, this year occurring on March 20th. Rooted in Zoroastrianism, it’s one of the world’s oldest continuously celebrated holidays, aligning with the near-equal day and night signifying balance and new beginnings.
Celebrations include a thorough spring cleaning of homes to banish bad energy, followed by bonfires on the eve of the new year to symbolically let go of the past. Families visit each other, exchange gifts, and enjoy traditional feasts featuring dishes like sabzi polo ba mahi and ash reshteh. A central tradition is the Haft Sin table, featuring seven symbolic items starting with the Persian letter “s,” each carrying unique meaning related to prosperity and renewal. The celebrations culminate on the 13th day with outdoor picnics.
The holiday’s significance extends beyond geographical boundaries, observed by diverse communities including Kurds in Iraq, Syria, and Turkey, and Parsi and Zoroastrian communities in India and Pakistan, demonstrating the enduring legacy of this ancient tradition.
First Piper 