Nowruz
2010: UN recognises Nowruz
The United Nations General Assembly has recognized March 21 as the International Day of Nowruz, describing it a spring festival of Persian origin which has been celebrated for over 3,000 years and calling on world countries to draw on the holiday's rich history to promote peace and goodwill. During the meeting of The Inter-governmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Heritage of the United Nations, held between 28 September – 2 October 2009 in
2012: United Nations observes Nowruz celebration
March 21: The United Nations observed Nowruz celebration in presence of representatives from 11 Persian-speaking countries, ambassadors along with diplomats from other member states at
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon sends message on Nowruz
Ban Ki-moon has sent a message on the International Day of Nowruz, calling on nations to work for a better global community. he defined Nowruz as a moment of cleansing and rebirth, and an opportunity to renew wishes of peace and goodwill. He said: “Nowruz is a day for family and friends, for festive meals, for dancing and singing. The day is an event to value mutual respect and the aspiration for harmony by all societies. This has been celebrated for millennia by peoples of Western, Central and South Asia, the
--
23 March 2012
In the website of Global Festival of Nowruz, Iranian Defence Minister Ahmed Vahidi said that Nowruz has a message of peace, friendship and religious teachings for the world nations.
--
Sunday March 28, 2010
Iran issues stamp celebrating International Day of Nowruz
The stamp was made public in the presence of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad during the first International Nowruz Celebrations in
Nowruz, meaning “a new day,” is an ancient Iranian tradition that has been celebrated around the globe for nearly three millenniums.
It honors the first day of spring as a new year and a brand new beginning on a merry, peaceful note. It is celebrated on the day of the vernal equinox, which normally lands on March 21.
The UN General Assembly recognized March 21st as the International Day of Nowruz earlier in February, calling on world countries to draw on the holiday's rich history to promote peace and goodwill.
On Saturday,
President Ahmadinejad also called for joint efforts to further acquaint the world about the meaningful holiday, adding that it could significantly promote global peace and justice.
“Observing Nowruz will not only promote cultural values, but it will also help nations establish relations based on friendship, peace, justice and respect,” he emphasized.
--
Friday April 3, 2009
The Canadian parliament has designated the vernal equinox or the first day of spring as 'Nowruz Day', marking the Persian New Year.
Liberals' motion, which was initially rejected by conservatives last week, passed through the House of Commons by unanimous consent on March 30th, 2009, Toronto Iranians reported.
Establishing Nowruz Day is breakthrough in recognizing the influential role of the Iranian-Canadian community in Canadian life and culture, said Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff.
Despite resistance from Conservative government members, I am happy to see that the Parliament of Canada has designated the first day of spring as Nowruz Day, he said.
"This recognition by the Canadian Parliament of such an important cultural tradition underscores our commitment to the multicultural society we have built together."
Liberal parliamentarian for Richmond Hill Bryon Wilfert also expressed his delight saying, "This is a victory for multiculturalism and specifically for all those Canadians of Persian descent that hold the celebration of Nowruz so dear."
"This is not just a matter of recognition, but gives Iranian-Canadians the respect they deserve."
--
Nowruz in the Twelver Shia faith
Along with Ismaili’s, Alawites and Alevis, the Twelver Shia also hold the day of Nowruz in high regard. The day upon which Nowruz falls has been recommended as a day of fasting for Twelver Shi’a Muslims by Shi’a scholars, including Abul-Qassim al-Khoei, Imam Khomeini and Ali al-Sistani. The day also assumes special significance for Shias as it was on 21 March 656 AD when the first Imam Hazrat Ali assumed the office of Caliphate.
--
In praise of… Nowruz
As western nations celebrate the coming of spring, other cultures are observing an ancient festival of renewal
Editorial - The Guardian, Monday 21 March 2011
In western cultures, today is the spring equinox – the long-awaited moment that marks the end of winter, when the days begin to stretch out noticeably and the nights to shrink. But in countries and cultures across the Middle East and central Asia, notably Iran, 21 March is Nowruz (or Nawroz, in Kurdish, or Norouz or Nauroz or several other variant spellings that shift from city to city across Asia), the ancient festival of the new year. Like Easter in countries with a Christian tradition, the religious and the pagan have merged into a single anniversary marked with symbols of new life, such as decorated eggs and spring flowers. In
--
HOW NOWRUZ IS CELEBRATED
Spring is considered by many nations as a symbol of rebirth when flowers bloom and nature casts a green spell of fresh vitality.
People in many countries welcome spring with the ancient Nowruz (new day) celebrations which coincides with the astronomical Vernal Equinox Day or the first day of spring.
According to master of Persian epic poetry Ferdowsi, Nowruz festivities date back to the time of mythological Iranian king Jamshid who saved mankind from a killer winter that was destined to kill every living creature.
Shahnameh (The Book of Kings) has it that Jamshid built a throne studded with gems and had demons raise him above the earth into the heavens where he sat on his throne like the sun shining in the sky.
The creatures of the world, who were awed by him gathered about him in wonder, scattered jewels and called the day the New Day or Nowruz.
Now people of
Nowruz is a celebration of renewal and change, a time to visit relatives and friends, and pay respect to senior family members. People prepare to welcome the New Year days before by spring cleaning and buying new clothes.
The night before the last Wednesday of the year is celebrated as Chahar Shanbeh Suri or the Wednesday Festival.
The festival of fire is the reminiscence of the Suri festival held by ancient Iranians to welcome visiting spirits and angels who they believed descended before the New Year came.
Ancient Persians used to light bonfires on rooftops to inform the visiting spirits that they were ready to receive them.
The public now follow the tradition by holding the festival of fire as a celebration of light (the good) winning over darkness (the evil).
People make bonfires in public and jump over the flames saying 'my yellowness is yours, your redness is mine,' telling the fire to take their pain, sickness and give them its strength and health.
Children re-enact the visits by spirits by wrapping themselves in shrouds and running through streets banging on pots and pans with spoons, trick or treating from door to door.
The ritual is known as Ghashogh Zani (spoon beating) and symbolizes the beating out of the last unlucky Wednesday of the year.
People also serve different kinds of pastry, and Ajil-e Moshkel-Gosha (problem-solving nuts) as a symbolic way of showing gratitude for the previous year's health and happiness.
Some break earthen jars which symbolically hold one's bad fortune and some entertain themselves performing the ritual of Fal-Gush inferring one's future from the conversations of those passing by.
Gereh-goshai is another ritual of the Wednesday Festival in which people make a knot in the corner of a handkerchief or garment and ask the first passerby to unravel it in order to remove ones misfortune.
After celebrating the festival of fire, Iranians start preparing the Haft Seen, a table with seven items starting with the letter 'S,' which is set to welcome the Persian New Year.
The items usually include Sabzeh (freshly grown greens), Samanu (sweet wheat paste), Senjed (jujube), Seeb (apple), Seer (garlic), Somagh (sumac) and Serkeh (vinegar).
Sabzeh symbolizes rebirth and prosperity, while Samanu is believed to bring strength and fertility. Some maintain that Samanu replaced Haoma, a scared herbal drink known for its healing properties.
Senjed is a symbol of love and some believe that when the tree is in full bloom, the fruit and fragrance makes people fall in love. The tree also symbolizes shelter and security.
Seeb was known as a fertility treatment in ancient
Fresh garlic was used to ward off evil omens and Iranians put it on their Haft Seen table as a symbol of peace and serenity.
Sumac is known by some as the spice of life and its color brings to mind the color of sunrise and victory of light over darkness which ancient Persians associate with the victory of good over evil.
Serkeh is a symbol of patience and old age as it starts out as grapes and undergoes many transformations before it finally turns into a taste improver.
Apart from the main Haft Seen items, people also put the holy Qur'an tin hopes of being blessed by God in the coming year.
Ayneh (mirror), Mahi (goldfish), Tokhm-e Morgh (egg), Ajil (dried nuts and fruits), Sham' (candle), Sekkeh (coin), Sonbol (hyacinth) and Sheer (milk) are also among the items Iranians include in their Haft Seen.
The whole table is a thanksgiving table for all the good bestowed by God, and symbolizes light, warmth, life, love, joy, production, prosperity, and nature.
During the last few weeks before Nowruz people, especially children, go on streets to see Haji Firuz who appears on the streets and alleyways with his troupe of musicians.
Haji Firuz is a black-faced character wearing bright red clothes and a felt hat who entertains people with music and dancing.
People of all ages gather around him and his troupe, and some even shower them with coins and paper money.
When the last hour of the old year is coming to an end all members of the family wear new clothes or their best outfits and sit around the Haft Seen listening to the head of the family recite the Nowruz prayers.
Once the New Year is announced, people exchange presents known as Eydi, sweets are passed around and wild rue is burned to keep the evil eye away. Families then eat a special rice dish served with fish and herbs.
The first few days of the New Year are usually spent visiting elders, relatives and friends.
Zoroastrians celebrate the birth anniversary of Prophet Zoroaster on the sixth day of Nowruz holidays which falls on March 26.
Nowruz festivities continue for 12 days and on the 13th day people attend picnics or parties in a tradition called Sizdah Bedar or 'thirteen-in-the-outdoors.'
On this day families enjoy the final day of their New Year holidays in the woods, mountains or along streams and rivers to avoid the bad luck associated with the number thirteen.
People throw their Sabzeh, which has symbolically collected all the sickness and bad luck, into running water and young girls tie wild grass tops and wish for a happy marriage in the coming year.
Iranians believe an individual's conduct in Nowruz will affect their lives throughout the year; therefore, they abstain from fights and disagreements to ensure a good year.
--
Xinjiang Uygurs celebrate Nowruz festival to welcome spring
URUMQI, March 21 (Xinhua) -- Kite flying, dancing, eating sweet lamb stew and playing a game on horseback is how the Uygur people in northwest China celebrate the start of spring.
Nowruz, which means spring water, marks the first day of spring and the beginning of the year on the Iranian calendar. Usually falling around March 21 each year, it was celebrated Sunday this year.
Nowruz is celebrated not only by Uygurs, but also by Kazaks, Kirgizs and Uzbeks in
On Nowruz, people usually get up early and put on their best clothes. The head of the family waves burning pine and fir branches over the heads of his family members to wish them good luck in the coming year.
After extinguishing the branches, he lays them in front of the barn door for the farm animals to walk over which, according to ancient Uygur beliefs, will make the animals plump and fertile.
The traditional Nowruz stew, "Harach," is made of corn, carrots, raisins, rice, lamb and other 23 ingredients. It is usually served at lunch, and after finishing the meal people visit close relatives.
This year more than 5,000 local residents and tourists participated in a grand celebration held in Yapchan, a small county famous for the polo-like game of Buzkashi. But unlike polo, the horse riders play with a dead goat rather than a ball, and use their hands rather than sticks and pick-up and carry the goat.
"Nowruz is not just about celebrating. It also heralds the beginning of ploughing," said Uzman, a 45-year old Uygur, who played the Dutar, a two-string lute, at the Yapchan festival.
He said that he had participated in the festival for 14 years and that he noticed more and more tourists each year. [2011-03-21]
--
United Nations
The International Day of Nowruz was registered on the UNESCO List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity on February 23, 2010, and the festivities are now celebrated in many countries as far as the US and Canada. The United Nations also promotes Nowruz by holding celebrations and introducing the tradition as a representation of peace and solidarity between generations and within families as well as reconciliation and neighborliness among peoples and different communities.
Persian year 1390 started on Monday 21 march 2011.
--
www.presstv.ir
www.nowroz.ir
___________________________________________
No comments:
Post a Comment