Iranian New Year

By Iranian Student Association (IRSA)

March 2008
 Iranian (Persian) New Year
(Norooz)
• Norooz means New Day
• End and rebirth
• First day of the spring and beginning of Iranian Calendar (Solar)
• Falls on Spring Equinox (usually occurs on March 21st every year)
 Norooz Celebrating Countries
Azerbaijan Pakistan
Albania Syria
Afghanistan
Tajikistan
Northwestern China
Turkey
Georgia
Turkmenistan
India
Uzbekistan
Iran
Kyrgyzstan
Kazakhstan
Lebanon
Iraq
 Norooz and its Traditions
• Traditionally goes back approximately
15000 years ago after the end of the
last ice age
• Symbolized by King Jamshid
• We get ready for Norooz by:
• Cleaning our houses (Khaneh-Tekani)
• Buying new clothing
• Buying gifts for family and friends
 Norooz and its Traditions

• Celebrating Last Wednesday

or Chaharshanbeh Souri
• Getting fresh sweets and fruits to our guests
• Putting together our Haft-Seen
• Being forgiving and kind
 Last Wednesday
• Symbolized by Chaharshanbeh Souri
King Jamshid

• Celebrated on last Tuesday night

of the year by jumping over fire.

• Prepares people for a peaceful

and forgiving New Year.

• The main idea is to get the energy and positive glow from the fire and give all
bad feelings to the fire.
Haft-Seen (7 S’s)
 Haft-Seen (7 S’s)
• Haft-Seen means seven items starting with letter “S” such as:

• Sabzeh
(grown wheat): Rebirth
• Samanu
(wheat germ pudding): Affluence
• Senjed
(dried fruit of oleaster tree): Love
• Seer
(garlic): Good health
• Sib
(apple): Beauty
• Somag
(sumac): Color of sunrise
• Serkeh
(vinegar): Age and patience

• Haft-Seen are put together before the Norooz count down

Haft-Seen (7 S’s)
 Norooz and History
• Picture of Persepolis all nations stairway 486-465 BC
• People are bringing Norooz gifts to the king of Persia
 Thirteenth Day of Norooz

• First thirteen days of New Year are Holidays

• Thirteenth day of Norooz is called
“Sizdah Bedar” meaning to get rid of thirteen
(13), which envisions bad luck or omen
• Sizdah Bedar is the day of festivity and
family picnic
• Sabzeh is supposed to collect all the illness
& pain of new year
• Sabzeh is thrown out at the end of the day
Norooz parade 2006 in New York City
All Adam’s race are members of one frame.
Since all, at first, from the same essence
came

When by hard fortune one limb is

oppressed, the other members lose their
wonted rest;

If thou feel’st not for other’s misery, A son of

Adam is no name for thee

Sadi
Iranian Student Association (IRSA)