About Nowruz
Nowruz, meaning “new day,” marks the first day of spring with over 300 million people taking part in the celebration of the vernal equinox. Nowruz starts at the precise moment that winter ends and spring begins on March 20 at 5:24 p.m. eastern time.
Nowruz originated from Zoroastrianism, the religion of Iran before the advent of Islam, and has been celebrated for over 3,000 years in many regions, including the Balkans, Black Sea Basin, Caucasus, Central Asia, and the Middle East. It is centered on the values of peace and solidarity between generations and families. These themes of reconciliation and community further emphasize Nowruz’s part in encouraging cultural diversity and friendship among people of all different identities.
About three weeks before Nowruz, people spring clean, “ridding their homes of any unnecessary clutter and lingering grime that’s settled in over the past year so they can start fresh” (Persian New Year, or Nowruz, explained, Vox). A 13-day celebration kicks off on Nowruz. People celebrate with dinners, visiting family, and reflecting on the new year ahead of them.
In Iran, the centerpiece of the celebration is the Haftseen table, which includes at least seven (haft) items symbolizing new life and renewal:
- sib (apples): fertility and beauty
- sonbol (hyacinth): fragrance
- serkeh (wine vinegar): immortality and eternity
- senjed (wild olives): fertility and love
- sabzeh (wheat, barley, or lentil sprouts growing in a dish): rebirth
- samanu (wheat sprout pudding): sweetness
- sekkeh (coins): wealth
The celebrations end on the 13th day by taking the sabzeh from the Haftseen table to a natural body of water, where those celebrating let it float away, symbolizing the release of the old and the ushering in of the New Year.
Ways to Support Iranian Protesters on Nowruz
As a “new day” arrives this year, it’s important to recognize the current protests happening in Iran. On September 16, 2022, Mahsa Amini died while under Iranian government custody for not wearing her hijab in accordance with government standards. Iranian women, girls, and allies began protests across the country with the chant, “Woman, Life, Freedom.” As of February 2023, PBS News Hour had reported an estimated 200,000 protestors had been detained and 500 people had been killed. In addition, a series of suspected gas poisonings of over 1,000 schoolgirls have occurred at over 90 schools.
How can you support the women, girls, and allies protesting in Iran? Here are a few ways to support them:
- Donate to the Iranian American Women Foundation, whose mission is to provide a platform for empowerment and networking among Iranian American women and to provide mentorship to younger generations of Iranians locally and globally. In addition, visit their Take Action for Women’s Rights page for other ways to support the struggle in Iran.
- Donate to and read the latest news at the Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI), which is an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit organization based in New York City that works to protect and promote human rights in Iran. They collaborate with an extensive team of independent investigators, civil society activists and human rights defenders inside Iran, allowing CHRI to report on and document real-time, on-the-ground human rights conditions in Iran.
- Read the latest news at Amnesty International on protests in Iran and the latest on how protestors are being treated during detainment.