Knowra Nowruz Nowruz Nowruz is a New Year festival observed at the spring equinox in Iran and across parts of Central and West Asia. Its customs welcome spring and renewal, often through family gatherings, symbolic foods, and visits.
Spring equinox : The moment when the Sun crosses the celestial equator, making day and night nearly equal in length. Its timing anchors Nowruz to the seasonal change celebrated as the new year.
Chaharshanbe Suri : An Iranian festival held on the eve of the last Wednesday before Nowruz, traditionally involving bonfires and ritual jumping. It marks the approach of Nowruz with a distinctive pre-new-year celebration.
Zoroastrianism : An ancient Iranian religion centered on the teachings of Zarathustra and the cosmic struggle between truth and falsehood. Nowruz developed in an Iranian religious and cultural world shaped by Zoroastrian traditions.
International Nowruz Day : A United Nations observance held on March 21 to recognize Nowruz and its cultural traditions. It gives the festival an international public platform beyond its traditional regions.
Holi : A Hindu festival of spring celebrated with colored powders, music, and communal gatherings. Both welcome spring, but Holi follows a lunar calendar and has different religious histories.
Iranian culture : The traditions, arts, languages, and social practices associated with Iran and Iranian communities. Nowruz is a major expression of Iranian cultural life, while also extending beyond Iran.
Sizdah Bedar : An Iranian outdoor festival on the thirteenth day of the Persian new year, commonly celebrated with picnics. It brings the Nowruz holiday period to a close through time outdoors.
Achaemenid Empire : An ancient Persian empire founded by Cyrus the Great in the sixth century BCE. Persepolis reliefs are often associated with royal ceremonies linked to the spring new year.
United Nations General Assembly : The main deliberative body of the United Nations, in which all member states are represented. The Assembly designated March 21 as International Nowruz Day in 2010.
Easter : A Christian festival commemorating the resurrection of Jesus, dated using a lunisolar calendar. Its spring timing can overlap with Nowruz, but its date and religious meaning differ.
Show all 29