Since the dawn of mankind, humans have needed to keep track of time. Pre-modern societies most commonly kept track of the sun and moon, but the first recorded physical calendars developed in the Ancient Near East during the Bronze Age. Out of this developed the Persian calendar system, which is still in use today by many cultures.
The Shahnameh, an epic poem about Persian kings, tells the story of King Jamshid who saved mankind from a winter that was destined to kill every living creature. After Jamshid defeated winter by constructing a gem-studded throne, the world’s creatures gathered and scattered jewels around him and proclaimed a Now Ruz, or “New Day,” marking the first day of Farvardin, the first month of the Persian calendar.
For over 3000 years, Nowruz has been celebrated by many people in places ranging from Eastern Europe to South Asia and Western China. Nowruz customs vary due to the diversity of the people and cultures celebrating the holiday. “My family sets a Haft-sin table for Nowruz,” said sophomore Cyrus Piroozmand. Haft-sin tables are an Iranian Nowruz tradition where family members typically gather around the table and await the exact moment to celebrate the new year.
Spring cleaning and visiting loved ones are other common traditions, but each country that celebrates Nowruz has its own unique tradition. Azerbaijanis and Afghans prepare plates with various dried fruits and nuts. Iranians have Amu Nowruz who brings children gifts much like Santa Claus. Albanians spend the day commemorating the birth of Imam ‘Ali – a holy figure in Bektashism – and Central Asians also spend the day in prayer. Indians, Pakistanis and Bangladeshis historically held a 19-day-long celebration while Kurds consider the holiday as a symbol of their cultural identity, wearing their national dress to celebrate the new year.
In order to help preserve the cultural traditions of the holiday, the United Nations added Nowruz to the UNESCO list of Intangible Cultural Heritage. The House of Representatives wished Iranian-Americans and the people of Iran a prosperous new year in a 2010 resolution, and the White House hosts a Nowruz reception complete with a Haft-sin table every year. Nowruz is March 20 this year, marking the beginning of spring with the sun crossing the celestial equator.
The Patriot Post has our own Haft-sin table in celebration of Nowruz this year. In a Haft-sin table, there are seven (haft) things beginning with the Persian letter sin. Each item on the table holds its own symbolic meaning to be reflected on for the new year. (Photo/Zain Masood).
