Sarah Riches | 18 March 2024
What is Nowruz? Here's everything you need to know
In March every year, around 300 million people celebrate the arrival of spring and a new year during the festival of Nowruz...
In March every year, around 300 million people celebrate the arrival of spring and a new year during the festival of Nowruz...
Every year, millions of people across Central Asia celebrate the festival of Nowruz. The word 'Nowruz' comes from the Persian ‘now’ (new) and ‘ruz’ (day). It begins on the spring equinox – when daylight and night time are of equal length – every March, which marks the beginning of spring in the northern hemisphere. The festival was added to UNESCO’s list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2010.
Here are some of the key facts to know about Nowruz and how it's celebrated...
An example of a haft-sin table (Shutterstock)
While Nowruz began in Iran in the 11th century, it is now celebrated throughout Central Asia and among Asian diaspora across the world. It’s common to visit friends and family, spring clean, wear new clothes and buy flowers, especially hyacinths and tulips. On the day itself, people gather around a haft-sin table loaded with sumac, garlic, apple, vinegar, olives, the sweet dessert samanu and sabze, a dish of wheat, barley, mung bean or lentil sprouts. The table may also feature a mirror, candles, painted eggs, a bowl of water, goldfish, coins, hyacinths, sweets and a holy book. But each country has its own traditions.
A family gathers in Iran (Alamy)
On the Tuesday night before Nowruz Iranians disguise themselves and bang plates and bowls with spoons as they visit neighbours to receive snacks, much like the Halloween tradition of trick or treating.
Charshanbe Suri, or Festive Wednesday, falls on the Wednesday before Nowruz. People set off firecrackers and fireworks, jump over bonfires and wish away sickness and problems over the fire. Snacking on dried fruit and berries is common.
On the last day of Nowruz, Iranians play pranks, have picnics in parks and forests and discard plants into running water; young people, particularly girls, tie the leaves beforehand to show they are looking for a partner.
Amu Nowruz, an elderly character with a long white beard similar to Father Christmas, gives children presents and treats in the street. The fictional character Haji Firuz, a dancer and tambourine player who dresses in red and has a face covered in soot, accompanies him.
Fire is a part of several country's celebrations for Nowruz, with people jumping over it (Shutterstock)
Celebrations are held every Tuesday for four weeks before Nowruz in Azerbaijan. One of the four elements – water, fire, earth and wind – are celebrated each Tuesday. On the last Tuesday, children knock on neighbours’ doors, leave a basket outside and hide, waiting for the neighbour to put treats inside it. On the day before Nowruz, people visit the graves of their relatives. People also celebrate the festival by folk dancing and taking part in competitive sports.
Nowruz is mostly celebrated by Iranians living in Armenia, and like in Iran, they have a thing for jumping over fires. In Bangladesh, people spray water around their home and drink it to protect themselves from disease, while in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan people prepare nauryz kozhe, a cold soup-like drink made with barley, milk, kefir and salt. In Afghanistan, it’s common to eat seven types of dried fruit and nuts such as raisins, silver berries, pistachios, hazelnuts, prunes, walnuts and almonds in syrup. Throughout Iraqi Kurdistan families celebrate by having a picnic and dancing. These are just a few ways countries across Central Asia celebrate.
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