Nowruz Festival

The Persian New Year, NowRuz (also written as Nowrouz and NoRooz) marks the first day of spring or Equinox as the beginning of the year in the Persian calendar. It is celebrated on the day of the astronomical Northward equinox, which usually occurs on March 21 or the previous/following day depending on where it is observed. The moment the sun crosses the celestial equator and equalizes night and day is calculated exactly every year and families gather together to observe the rituals. NowRuz is an ancient, national Iranian custom and celebrated by people from diverse ethnic communities and religious backgrounds for thousands of years. Celebrations include complete cleaning of the house (spring cleaning), setting the Haftsin table and sitting around it at the turn of the year, wearing new garments, presenting eidi (gifts) to children, sprinkling rose water, eating sweets, and more importantly, visiting one another.