The Circuit of Love
در حلقه ی عشق

Norouz

Norouz is the traditional Persian new year holiday in Iran, Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, various countries of Central Asia such as Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan; as well as among Iranian people in Iraq, Pakistan, Turkey, and Parsis of India and Pakistan. In Turkish is called "Nevruz", "Sultan Nevruz" in Albanian, and "Newroz" in Kurdish.

Norouz marks the first day of spring and the beginning of the Iranian year. It is celebrated by some communities on March 21^st (Bahai faith) and by others on the day of astronomical vernal equinox (start of spring), which may occur on March 20^th, 21^st or 22^nd.

The word comes from Old Persian "nava" (new) + "rəzaŋh" (day/daylight) means "new day" and still has the same meaning in the Modern Persian, "no" (new) + "rouz" (day); meaning "new day".

The term Norouz first appeared in Persian records in the second century AD, but it was also an important day during the Achaemenid times (648-330 BC), where kings of different nations under Persian empire used to bring gifts to the emperor (Shahanshah) of Persia on Norouz.

In 487 BC Darius the great, of the Achaemenian dynasty celebrated the Norouz at his newly built palaces of Persepolis. A recent research shows that it was a very special occasion. On that day, the first rays of the rising sun fell on the observatory in the great hall of audience at 06-30 a.m., an event which repeats itself once every 1400 years. It also happened to coincide with the Babylonian and Jewish new years. It was, therefore, a highly auspicious occasion for the ancient peoples.

Norouz, however, was most honored even by the early founders of Islam. There are records of the Four Great Caliphs presiding over Norouz celebrations, and it was adopted as the main royal holiday during the Abbasid period. Thus, Norouz remained as the main celebration in the Persian lands by both the officials and the people.

Omar Khayyam in his Norouznama has written a vivid description of the celebration in ancient Persian.

In Iran, the greeting that accompanies the festival is "Aydetoon Mobārak" ("mubarak": felicitations) in Persian. In Turkey, the greeting is either "Bayramınız Mubarek/kutlu olsun (in Turkish) or Cejna te pîroz be (in Kurdish).

Norouz in modern Iran

In Iran, preparations for Norouz begin in Esfand (or Espand), the last month of winter in the Persian solar calendar.

"Khane Tekani"

Persians, Afghans and other groups start preparing for the Norouz with a major spring-cleaning of their houses, the purchase of new clothes to wear for the new year and the purchase of flowers.

In association with the "rebirth of nature", extensive spring-cleaning is a national tradition observed by almost every household in Persia. This is also extended to personal attire, and it is customary to buy at least one set of new clothes. On the New Year's day, families dress in their new clothes and start the twelve-day celebrations by visiting the elders of their family, then the rest of their family and finally their friends. On the thirteenth day families leave their homes and picnic outdoors.

During the Norouz holidays people are expected to visit one another (mostly limited to families, friends and neighbours) in the form of short house visits, which are usually reciprocated. Typically, on the first day of Norouz, family members gather around the table, with the Haft Seen on the table or set next to it, and await the exact moment of the arrival of the spring. At that time gifts are exchanged. Later in the day, the first house visits are paid to the most senior family members. Typically, the youth will visit the elders first, and the elders return their visit later. The visits naturally have to be relatively short, otherwise one will not be able to visit everybody on their list. A typical visit is around 30 minutes, where you often run into other visiting relatives and friends who happen to be paying a visit to the same house at that time. Because of the house visits, you make sure you have a sufficient supply of pastry, cookies, fresh and dried fruits and special nuts on hand, as you typically serve your visitors with these items with tea or sherbet. Many Iranians will throw large Norouz parties in a central location as a way of dealing with the long distances between groups of friends and family.

Some Norouz celebrants believe that whatever a person does on Norouz will affect the rest of the year. So, if a person is warm and kind to their relatives, friends and neighbours on Norouz, then the new year will be a good one. On the other hand, if there are fights and disagreements, the year will be a bad one.

One tradition that may not be very widespread (that is, it may belong to only a few families) is to place something sweet, such as honey or candy, in a safe place outside overnight. On the first morning of the new year, the first person up brings the sweet stuff into the house as another means of attaining a good new year.

The "Haft Sîn"

Haft Sîn (هفت سین) or the seven 'S's is a major tradition of Norouz. The haft sin table includes seven items specific starting with the letter S or Sîn (س) in Persian Alphabet). The items symbolically correspond to seven creations and holy immortals protecting them. Originally called Haft Chin (هفت چین), the Haft Sin has evolved over time, but has kept its symbolism. Traditionally, families attempt to set as beautiful a Haft Sîn table as they can, as it is not only of traditional and spiritual value, but also noticed by visitors during Norouzi visitations and is a reflection of their good taste.

The Haft Sin items are:

• sabzeh - wheat, barley or lentil sprouts growing in a dish - symbolizing rebirth
• samanu - a sweet pudding made from wheat germ - symbolizing affluence
• senjed - the dried fruit of the oleaster tree - symbolizing love
• sîr - garlic - symbolizing medicine
• sîb - apples, - symbolizing beauty and health
• somaq - sumac berries - symbolizing (the color of) sunrise
• serkeh - vinegar - symbolizing age and patience

Other items on the table may include:

• traditional Iranian pastries such as baghlava, toot, naan-nokhodchi
• dried nuts, berries and raisins (Aajeel)
• lit candles (enlightenment and happiness)
• a mirror
• decorated eggs, sometimes one for each member of the family (fertility)
• a bowl with goldfish (life, and the sign of Pisces which the sun is leaving)
• a bowl of water with an orange in it (the earth floating in space)
• rose water for its magical cleansing powers
• the national colours, for a patriotic touch
• a holy book (e.g., the Qur'an, Avesta, Bible, or Torah) and/or a poetry book (almost always either the Shahnama or the Divan of Hafez)

…and finally your Gift!

Amongst all of these traditions, Norouz gift is something that I think cause most felicitation. So it's my Norouz gift to you!

It's an executable file (7.01 mb and I promise it contain no Viruses!) with no need to install. It runs an e-book of English translation of "Ruba'yiat of Omar Khayyam" (translated by Edward Fitzgerald). The book contains also the arts of maestro Mahmood Farshchian. I created this e-book about 6 years ago, and now I can not edit it. So, pardon me for crowding the last two pages of book with my photos and signs!

I hope you will enjoy my Norouz Gift!

Have nice time

Sincerely yours

Erfan M. Khosravi