The Celebration of Persian New Year; Nowruz

While for many of us, it has been 3 months into the new year of 2026, for Iranians across the globe it has been 2 days since the new year of 1406. This unique new year is a special holiday celebrated for over 3,000-4,000 years, making it one of the world’s oldest and most cherished festivals.

What is Nowruz?

Nowruz meaning “new day”, is an essential part of Iranian culture. It marks the beginning of the year on the Iranian calendar unlike the gregorian calendar, and takes place during the spring equinox, marking the beginning of spring.

Nowruz is also regarded as more than just a new year. It is a celebration of rebirth and the conquest of light over darkness.

This holiday originally dates back to Zoroastrianism, which was one of the main religions of ancient Persia. It is also why Nowruz is considered a holy day alongside it being a festival, for those that practice Zoroastrianism.

How is Nowruz celebrated?

The celebration of Nowruz starts 2-4 weeks before the spring equinox. Most people begin the season with deep cleaning their house to get “rid of the dust of the past,” and continue with shopping and setting up their table.

An essential part of Nowruz is the “Haft-Sin” table. Made up of 7 items starting with the Farsi letter “S”, the Haft-Sin represents essential aspects of life.

The 7 Haft-Sin table items are made up of:

“Sabzeh”(sprouts)- representing renewal

“Samanu”(wheat pudding)- representing abundance

“Somagh”(sumac)-representing the triumph of good over evil and the sunrise

“Serkeh”(vinegar)-representing patience and wisdom

“Senjed”(dried oleaster)- representing love

“Seer”(garlic)- representing good health

“Seeb”(apple)- representing beauty

Other items with strong symbolism and/or that start with the Farsi letter “S” might be put on the Haft-Sin depending on the person. Some of the extra items are; “Sham”(candles), “Shirini”(sweets), “Ayne”(mirror), and more.

“Tahvil-e Sal”

On the spring equinox, the new year which is called “Tahvil-e Sal” happens. Although, there is no specific time set for it since it is calculated astronomically every year. The calculation takes in factors such as when the sun crosses the equator, movements from south to north, and making day and night equal.

After Tahvil-e Sal happens, for the next 13 days, Iranians visit their families, starting from the eldest members to the youngest.

On the 13th day, which is called “Sizdah Bedar,” people go outside with family and friends. During this time, people also throw the sprouts from their Haft-Sin into the water to let go of bad luck.