Nowruz, the ancient Persian holiday that marks the beginning of spring and the new year, has been celebrated for over 3,500 years. This year, in 2024, people around the world are coming together to honor this rich tradition and embrace the spirit of renewal and rebirth.
The festivities of Nowruz are a time for families to gather, exchange gifts, and share delicious meals. It is a time to reflect on the past year and set intentions for the year ahead. The holiday is steeped in symbolism and rituals that signify hope, prosperity, and good fortune.
Persia, anchored in modern-day Iran, once stretched from Afghanistan and Pakistan in the east to Egypt and the Balkan Peninsula in the west, and it left behind an enduring cultural legacy that includes this vibrant celebration. Despite Nowruz dating back 3,500 years, celebrants believe that rather than fading from relevance, the lessons of Nowruz – from taking a yearly reset to valuing family to connecting with nature in a precarious time – are now more important than ever.
Nowruz was originally a Zoroastrianism holiday, part of the ancient monotheistic religion founded by the prophet Zoroaster in approximately 500 BCE. In the time of the Persian Empire (roughly 559-331 BCE), the rulers of all of the subject countries were summoned at Nowruz to bring gifts and pay homage to the king at Persepolis, the ruins of which remain in the Iranian city of Shiraz. In this way, the kings could show the ancestors that they were prospering, something that remains an important aspect of the holiday.
Nowruz, also spelt Norooz or Nowrooz, is the Iranian New Year, marking the beginning of the spring equinox in the Northern Hemisphere. This year, it will be celebrated on March 20, 2024, Wednesday, with the exact moment of the vernal equinox occurring at 6:36 AM in Tehran, Iran. However, the United Nations recognises March 21st as the International Day of Nowruz, emphasising its global observance and cultural significance.
In 2024, as people gather to celebrate Nowruz, they will reflect on the past year and look forward to new beginnings. It is a time to let go of negativity and embrace positivity, to forgive and forget, and to start anew with hope and optimism.
As the sun sets on the old year and rises on the new, may all those celebrating Nowruz in 2024 find peace, happiness, and prosperity in the days ahead.
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