MAR 20

NOWRUZ

Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iran, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan

Rooted in Zoroastrianism, an ancient Persian religion that predates both Christianity and Islam, the Persian New Year has been celebrated for some 3,000 years. Falling on the day of the vernal equinox, Nowruz means “new day” and is a time to rid oneself of the old and embrace the new. To prepare for the occasion, families spring-clean their homes and display a haftseen, a collection of items that symbolise different hopes for the new year, in their homes. What follows is 13 days of feasting, family visits and reflections for the year ahead. Festivities include street fairs, traditional performances and rituals involving fire, money and banging on pots with spoons.