In many parts of the world, March 21 marks the beginning of spring. However, not in Iran. Because according to Persian culture, this day stands for the Persian New Year. The so-called Nowruz or Nouruz. This means as much as "new day" and says goodbye to the old year while ringing in the new year with splendor and joy. The tradition finds its origins in Zoroastrianism, the formerly predominant religion in Persia, and now dates back some 3000 years. Today, Islam and Christianity have spread widely. In addition to Iran, other parts of the world also celebrate the festival, so that there are now over 300 million people who take part in the festivities in the Persian cultural area. By far the largest and most colorful festival in Iran lasts 13 days and involves a wide variety of rituals that decorate the time and make it special. However, the focus is especially on spending time with family and loved ones.
A few selection of the rituals :
- Xanetakani
Preparations for the festivities start a few weeks before the holiday with Xanetakani, the spring cleaning. Here, all houses and apartments are thoroughly cleaned and freed from the dust of the past year. This is supported by the purchase of new colorful clothes and the procurement of ingredients for all kinds of traditional dishes. Both are meant to symbolize the process of renewal.
- Haft Sin
Under the so-called Haft Sin fall seven items that are essential to have in your home during the festivities and are an important part of the Persian New Year. Translated, Haft Sin means something like "The seven S's". If you take a look at the seven items whose names in Farsi, the name of the Persian language, all begin with S, you understand where the naming comes from. Moreover, the number 7 is a sacred number in Persian.
1. sib - an apple, which stands for health and rebirth
2. sabzeh - wheat, barley or lentil sprouts as a sign of vitality
3. senjed - dried flour berry as a symbol of love and joy of life
4. serkeh is vinegar and stands for immortality and patience
5. somagh symbolizes the taste of life and is a spice mixture
6. sir - garlic as a symbol of protection
7. samano or samanak is a sweet pudding made from wheat germ that brings fertility, blessings and wealth. If one eats some of it, it is said to bring joy and sweetness in the new year!
All these items are spread out on the sofre-ye, a Persian tablecloth. This is said to bring overall good luck and wealth in the new year. In addition to the seven items, other meaningful items are often dished up as well.
- Chahar Shanbe-e Suri
Another very popular tradition during Nowruz is the so-called fire jumping. This takes place on the evening of the last Wednesday before the beginning of spring and is called Tschahar Shanbe-e Suri. Here many small fires are made, over which the people jump. According to the symbolic meaning, the jump is supposed to bring good luck, health and strength.
- Hamed, Karlstein am Main