By Firouzeh
Mirrazavi
Haftseen in White House - March
2008
Although the present Iranian Year (1388) has
witnessed numerous developments either in domestic and foreign arenas;
developments that have changed Iran's and Iranians' image among the world's
citizens.
Although Iranian people have faced with lots of
bitter and awe-inspiring realities and problems that affected their lives
grossly.
Although the debates over stronger measures
against Iran - from sanctions, enforcing blockade to military strikes - have
been increased in different circles around the world from elites and punditry to
politicians and military commanders.
There is coming New Iranian Year (1389) in just a
few days, there is coming Norooz.
Norooz is a relic of ancient times. A memory of
old tales and epics, a celebration of rebirth and rejuvenation. Spring has
arrived and the previous year with all its events, good or bad, has passed.
Renewed hope anticipates new achievements.
Norooz (Nowruz) in Persian means "New day". It
is the beginning of the year for the peoples of Iran (Greater Iran, including:
Afghanistan, Arran (Republic of Azerbaijan) and Central Asian Republics).
It begins precisely with the beginning of spring on vernal equinox, on or about
March 21. Tradition takes Norooz as far back as 15,000 years--before the last
ice age.
King Jamshid is said to be the person who
introduced Norooz celebrations. Some 12 centuries later, in 487 B.C.E., Darius
the Great of the Achaemenian dynasty celebrated the Norooz at his newly built
Persepolis in Iran. On that day, the first rays of the rising sun fell on the
observatory in the great hall of audience at 06-30 a.m., an event which repeats
itself once every 1400-1 years. The Persepolis was the place the Achaemenian
king received on Norooz, his peoples from all over the vast empire. The walls
of the great royal palace depict the scenes of the celebrations.
We know the Iranians under the Parthian dynasty
celebrated the occasion but we do not know the details. It should have, more or
less, followed the Achaemenian pattern. During the Sasanian time, preparations
began at least 25 days before Norooz. Twelve pillars of mud-bricks, each
dedicated to one month of the year, were erected in the royal court. Various
vegetable seeds--wheat, barley, lentils, beans, and others--were sown on top of
the pillars. They grew into luxurious greens by the New Year Day. The great
king held his public audience and the High Priest of the empire was the first to
greet him. Government officials followed next. Each person offered a gift and
received a present. The audience lasted for five days, each day for the people
of a certain profession. Then on the sixth day, called the Greater Norooz, the
king held his special audience. He received members of the Royal family and
courtiers. Also a general amnesty was declared for convicts of minor crimes. The
pillars were removed on the 16th day and the festival came to a close. The
occasion was celebrated, on a lower level, by all peoples throughout the empire.
A major part of the New Year rituals is setting a
special table with seven specific items present, Haft Sin (Haft chin, seven
crops before Islam). In the ancient times each of the items corresponded to one
of the seven creations and the seven holly immortals protecting them.
Today they are changed and modified but some have
kept their symbolism. All the seven items start with the letter S; this was not
the order in ancient times. Wheat or barley representing new growth is still
present. Fish the most easily obtainable animal and water are present. Lit
candles are a symbol of fire. Mirrors are used today, origin unknown. These were
expensive items in ancient times and were made from polished metal. It is
unlikely that all households would have one. Zoroastrians today place the lit
candle in front of the mirror. Wine was always present. Today it is replaced by
vinegar since alcohol is banned in Islam.
Egg a universal symbol of fertility corresponding
to the mother earth is still present. Garlic is used to warn off bad omen.
Samano a thick brownish paste is present today. It is a nutritious meal and
could have been part of the feasts. Coins symbolizing wealth and prosperity,
fruits and special meals are present as well.
Ferdowsi the great Iranian epic poet
described this auspicious event in Shahnameh:
On Jamshid as the people jewels streamed,
They cried upon him that New Year beamed
On Farvardin Hormuz in this bright New
Year
Bodies were freed from pain all hearts from fear
New Year new king the world thus rendered
bright
He sat resplendent on the throne in light
United Nations General Assembly recognized the International Day of Nowruz, a
spring festival of Persian origin.
According to the preamble of the resolution on
the International Day (document A/64/L.30/Rev.2), Nowruz, which means new day,
is celebrated on 21 March, the day of the vernal equinox, by more than 300
million people worldwide as the beginning of the new year. It has been
celebrated for over 3,000 years in the Balkans, the Black Sea Basin, the
Caucasus, Central Asia, the Middle East and other regions.
The Assembly called on Member States that
celebrate the festival to study its history and traditions with a view to
disseminating that knowledge among the international community and organizing
annual commemoration events.
Welcoming the inclusion of Nowruz into the
Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by the
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on 30
September 2009, the text notes the festival's "affirmation of life in harmony
with nature, the awareness of the inseparable link between constructive labour
and natural cycles of renewal and the solicitous and respectful attitude towards
natural sources of life".
Best wishes
for the New Year and the advent of spring to all Iranians and all the
peace-loving people around the world.
About the author: Firouzeh Mirrazavi is
Deputy Editor of Iran Review:
www.iranreview.org
Information about Norouz
and events across the globe
Persian New Year 1389
New Year, Norouz 1389 - 2010 Times
Articles on Norouz:
Norouz is a
Celebration of Life
Norouz : Persian
New Year
Norouz, the (Iranians) New Year and the Haft-Sin Symbolism
CHAHAR SHANBEH SURI
