Thursday, March 21, 2019 marks the official start of the Zoroastrian New Year, Nowruz نوروز‎.

Nowruz marks the day of the Spring Equinox, renewal of life as the days get longer.

Nowruz literally means “new-day”.  Nowruz gives us the opportunity to embrace the possibilities that come with each new day. As we celebrate Nowruz this year, let us remember our glorious past and plan for our future in North America.

Nowruz has been celebrated by our ancestors since ancient times.  Scenes of ambassadors from different nations bearing gifts to the emperor are carved on the walls of the Apadena in Persepolis. Sassanid emperors celebrated Nowruz as the most important day of the year.

Parsis brought the custom to India with them and celebrate the Spring Equinox as Jamshid-i-Nowruz. In Iran, the traditional heralds of the festival of Nowruz, Amu Nowruz and Haji Firuz appear in the streets, bringing gifts for children, much like Santa Claus.

In 2008, Nowruz was celebrated in the White House for the first time. In 2009, the Parliament of Canada, passed a bill to add Nowruz to the national calendar of Canada. In 2010, the House of Representatives of the United States passed the Nowruz Resolution “Recognizing the cultural and historical significance of Nowruz”; and Nowruz was added to the UNESCO List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. To commemorate the UN recognition, Iran unveiled a commemorative postage stamp during the first International Nowruz Celebrations in Tehran on Saturday, 27 March 2010.

LET US CELEBRATE

Zoroastrian associations throughout North America will celebrate Nowruz with prayer ceremonies, community gatherings, participation in Nowruz parades, museum exhibits, tree plantings, social gatherings and, most unique to Nowruz, by decorating beautiful Haft-seen tables at home with traditional Nowruz symbols.

Typically, before the arrival of Nowruz, family members gather around the Haft-seen table and await the exact moment of the equinox to celebrate the New Year. Traditionally, the Haft-seen (seven foods beginning with the letter seen (س‎)) are:

Sabze (wheat, barley, mung bean, or lentil sprouts grown in a dish); Samanu (sweet pudding made from wheat germ); Senjed (Persian olive); Serke (Vinegar); Sib (Apple); Sir (Garlic), and Sumac.  The Haft-seen table may also include a mirror, candles, painted eggs, a bowl of water, goldfish, coins, hyacinth, and traditional confectioneries. A “book of wisdom” such as the Avesta, the Šāhnāme of Ferdowsi, or the divān of Hafez may also be included.

THE SPIRIT OF NOWRUZ

To mark our presence in North America, let us share our traditions and celebrations with our families, friends and neighbors. Do invite them to your homes to view the Haft-seen table and share the fruits and sweets (shirini) with them.

This is the time to think about the future of our community too. Since its inception in 1987, FEZANA has been able to provide increasing funds for scholarships to deserving students and assistance to families and individuals for disaster relief and critical medical needs; and for community-wide activities to promote the study, understanding and practice of the Zoroastrian faith in our multi-cultural society.  As our community grows and prospers in North America, FEZANA needs physical infrastructure for meetings and religious training facilities, administrative office for communications and recordkeeping; and expanding facilities and equipment for promoting the study, research and education about the Zoroastrian religion.

Please support FEZANA to ensure the future of our religious community.  Your donation is an indication of what you consider as important for our community to do.

To see what causes you can support, and to donate online, please visit:  https://fezana.org/donate If you prefer, you can mail your donation check to FEZANA Treasurer, P.O. BOX 266, SUNSET BEACH, CA 90742.