You probably already know that today, March 20, by the Iranian calendar: the first day of spring and the first day of the Persian new year – Nowruz. Our New year always coincides with the vernal equinox, and the time of occurrence of the calculate to the exact second. So, this time in Iran, he came at eight in the morning (at half past seven in Moscow time).
As any Eastern people, we love to complicate things! Maybe that’s why we use three calendar – own, Persian, solar Hijri, applies in the daily life of Iranians. But we are well familiar with the Christian (European) calendar: these dates are used in the conduct of business, communication with other countries. Finally, we follow and Arabic, the Islamic calendar (lunar Hijri) – through it all religious festivals are celebrated and events. And weekend we have, instead of Saturday to Sunday, falls on Thursday and Friday.
For New year we have adopted the equivalent of the “Christmas tree”: table “haft-sin” – 7 edible items that in Farsi begin with the letter “C”. It can be apples, garlic, pudding “Samana”, and more. We used to put on the table hyacinths, germ grass (symbol of spring), aquarium with goldfish, a mirror, candles, colored eggs. We also have your “Santa Claus” – Haji-Firuz, with face and hands smeared with soot. The black face and the hands symbolize that he came out of the ground to awaken the world from its winter sleep. Haji Firuz is walking the streets, beats the drum and plays the zurna, fun people.
Read more about the various traditions associated with Nowruz, read here. It is also worth noting that the celebration of nowruzi in many ways similar to traditional Russian celebration of Maslenitsa. It is interesting that in Russia celebrate palm Sunday as the Christian date, and in Iran, however, around the same time decorate their homes with willow. I cite here a few photos pre-new year purchases in the Bazaar of Tajrish, one of the most famous in Iran, where also bought and willow.
Preparation for Nowruz begins in advance. So, in the evening of last Tuesday in Iran celebrated a fun, but somewhat dangerous Chaharshanbe-Suri, the eve of nooruse when young people jumping over bonfires and firecrackers explode.
Now we are waiting for the 12 days of the Christmas holidays, and in the last one (13th day of the year) relies have to leave the house to failure there you “not found”, Usually all go on picnics in parks (or forest, if you live in the North).
One more time: happy all of you 1395, the year!
Posts on similar topics:
Iranian volunteers bring the holiday to children
Nearing the Nowruz – Persian New year
Happy all nooruse!
