Nowruz Greetings

Nowruz greetings to all who are celebrating! The spring equinox is today. I've gone into various aspects of Nowruz in my Nowruz posts for previous years, explaining the traditions associated with the ancient Persian New Year, which is celebrated far beyond the borders of Iran: In Iranian-influenced areas well up into Central Asia on the one side, in Turkey and parts of the Balkans on the other; also among Kurds, Syrian Alawites and others in the Middle East, as well as by followers of the Zoroastrian and Baha'i faiths regardless of ethnic origin, and of course the broad Iranian diaspora. Nowruz means "New Day," a fine note to sound for spring, so a happy Nowruz to all.

Nowruz Mobarak!

Nowruz Mobarak!

I've already established the precedent of marking holidays, greeting my Muslim readers on Mawlid al-Nabi and my Jewish readers on Purim, so I might as well stay consistent and wish a happy Nowruz to every reader who celebrates the ancient Persian New Year.

It's a pretty broad brush: Iranians, of course, and Kurds, Afghans, many Turks, a lot of other folks where greater Persian civilization once held sway up into Central Asia, and members of a number of religions — Iranians of all varieties, but also Parsees (Zoroastrians) everywhere (who invented the holiday), Baha'is, Syrian ‘Alawites, Turkish Alevis, Albanians of the Bektashi Sufi order (thank you, Wikipedia, I didn't know about that one) — and doubtless many I'm leaving out.

Nowruz is, of course, simply the vernal equinox celebrated as the new year. Until the 18th century many British legal documents considered March 25 (roughly, before the shift to Gregorian, the vernal equinox) as the new year. There's something to be said for starting your year in the spring, when buds are budding and flowers are coming up, instead of in the dead of winter, as Western calendars now do, or the fall (Rosh Hashonah, Coptic New Year), or moving around the calendar (Muslim Ra's al-Sana). To any Iranians and all those other categories reading this, a happy Nowruz. We can all use a "new day," which is the literal translation.

Nowruz pirooz.

Nowruz Mobarak

Although most of us think of the spring equinox as March 21, this year the astronomical equinox is at 1:14 AM Eastern Daylight Time Tuesday morning. That also makes it Nowruz. I've gone into various aspects of Nowruz in my Nowruz posts for previous years, so let's just say that while it is, of course, the ancient Persian New Year, it is celebrated far beyond the borders of Iran: In Iranian-influenced areas well up into Central Asia on the one side, in Turkey and parts of the Balkans on the other; also among Kurds, Syrian Alawites and others in the Middle East, as well as members of the Zoroastrian and Baha'i faiths everywhere, and of course the broad Iranian diaspora. Nowruz means "New Day," a fine note to sound for spring, so a happy Nowruz to all.

Thoughts for Nowruz: The Haft Sin Table, and Time for a New Day?

Spring begins today, and the ancient spring/New Year's festival of Nowruz, common to Iran and to peoples whose culture derives from Ancient Persia one way or another — Iranians and Kurds and Turks and Azeris and Afghans, a great many Central Asians, some Balkan Muslims, Syrian Alawites and Turkish Alevis, the diasporas of all of the above, and Zoroastrians and Baha'is wherever they reside — it is the New Year (in the Iranian Solar reckoning, 1392). Today is the actual equinox, when many will celebrate; tomorrow is officially the first of Farvardin in the Persian calendar, and thus the "official" date.

The traditional Haft Sin table, where the table is spread with seven items starting with the letter "s" (sin) has its roots in an earlier Haft chin of pre-Islamic times. There is an older version, which includes items such as a mirror and a fish in water (still used by Zoroastrians and others: left), and a newer version with mostly seeds and foodstuffs, more common today (below right).

But given the growing confrontation with Iran over its alleged nuclear program, the coincidence of the tenth annversary of the war with Iraq (when a war over a nonexistent WMD capability led to a decade of disorder), and President Obama's visit to Israel (main cheerleader for pressure on Iran), I thought it might be time for a simple reminder: Nowruz, though usually translated as, and equivalent to, "New Year," does not in fact mean "New Year": it literally means "New Day."

To Americans, Israelis, Iranians and all who mark Nowruz, Nowruz Mobarak: may all of us find in this year a New Day.

Chaharshanbe Suri

This evening and tomorrow Iranians, and those whose heritage shares in Iranian cultural traditions from the Middle East to Central Asia, will celebrate Chaharshanbe Suri, the eve of the "Red Wednesday" that precedes Nowruz, the ancient Persian New Year, and begins on the previous Tuesday evening.  [Clarification: this was based on dating Nowruz on March 20 this year, which some are claiming.. Those celebrating Nowruz on the 21st will celebrate Chaharshanbe Suri next week.] Bonfires are lit and celebrations continue into the night; the feast is a survival of a pre-Islamic Zoroastrian celebration of the last week of the year, and honored the souls of the dead and the approach of spring.

Since Nowruz falls on a Wednesday this year, Chaharshanbe Suri begins a full week ahead. It is also a time for spring cleaning. Though not celebrated as far afield as Nowruz (which extends to the Balkans), the fire festival is celebrated in Iran, Azerbaijan, Kurdistan, and parts of Central Asia that are culturally in the Iranian sphere.

There were reports in 2010 that Ayatollah Khamene'i had banned celebrations of Chaharshanbe Suri, though if true that may have been to prevent public gatherings in that first spring after the post-election revolts of 2009. Though not essentially a religious feast in its present form, and celebrated by Christian and Jewish and Zoroastrian Iranians as well as Muslims, the presence of the bonfires may evoke Zoroastrian fire rituals for some conservative Muslim clerics.

Nowruz Mobarak!

With the beginning of spring I must of course wish all of those of you who celebrate Nowruz a happy New Year, whether you are Iranian, Afghan, Turkish, Central Asians, some folks in the Balkans, Syrian ‘Alawites, Zoroastrians everywhere, members of the Baha'i Faith — almost anyone who has been touched by the culture or faith of ancient Persia. You'll find my earlier Nowruz posts here, and Wikipedia's background here.

Nowruz literally means "New Day," which I wish all my readers.

Nowruz 2015

This evening the sun will pass the vernal equinox, bringing a much-awaited Spring (at least for us in the winter-bound US). That also means it's Nowruz, usually defined as Persian or Iranian New Year, but as I noted some years back:

It's a pretty broad brush: Iranians, of course, and Kurds, Afghans, many Turks, a lot of other folks where greater Persian civilization once held sway up into Central Asia, and members of a number of religions — Iranians of all varieties, but also Parsees (Zoroastrians) everywhere (who invented the holiday), Baha'is, Syrian ‘Alawites, Turkish Alevis, Albanians of the Bektashi Sufi order (thank you, Wikipedia, I didn't know about that one) — and doubtless many I'm leaving out.

To all those folks, Nowruz Mobarak,  and for more background see my earlier post on the Haft Sin (the "seven S's"), which Michelle Obama explained in the White House's early Nowruz celebration.

Haft Sin Table

Aiming for the PETA Vote? Rouhani Replaces Nowruz Goldfish with an Orange

Traditionally the Persian New Year Nowruz is celebrated with the Haft Sin table of seven items beginning with the letter "s," plus other traditional items such as the poetry of Hafiz and a live goldfish in a bowl. The goldfish are usually released into the wild at the end of the feast, where they are unlikely to live long. Many have called for a symbolic substitute, such as using a plastic fish.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani's Nowruz greetings on Twitter included a photo of himself standing next to a Haft Sin table adorned with a goldfish bowl containing what appears to be an orange in place of the goldfish.

On her Twitter feed, Vice President Massoumeh Ebtikar also called attention to the substitution, and to the fact that the bowl contains very little water.
Rouhani will be eligible for a second term in the 2017 Presidential elections.  Is he vying for the PETA and Save Water vote?

 .

Obama's Nowruz Greetings

It's the eve of Nowruz (actually, the astronomical solace is tomorrow, but the first of Farvardin, the Persian Calendar  New Year, is March 21, so when it's celebrated may depend on the country: it's not just Iran but Kurdistan, Turkey, Azerbaijan, much of Central Asia, Zoroastrians and Baha'i everywhere, etc.) President Obama, ironically on the eve of his trip to Israel, recorded his Nowruz greetings to Iranians::

I'll post my own in due time.

Using Nowruz as an Opening

Both US President Obama and, separately, Israeli President Shimon Peres have sent Nowruz greetings to Iran in efforts to thaw the chill: Peres actually speaking in Persian apparently, Obama relying on subtitles. I doubt that it will have much effect (especially Peres), but it's an improvement over confrontrational threats, and at least a reminder that someone in the West noticed it was Nowruz.

Noted Belatedly: Obama Used "Persian Gulf" in Nowruz Greeting

I overlooked a subtle message in President Obama's Nowruz message to Iran the other day.

I've discussed on earlier occasions (here and here and here  and here and here) what I have called "the  [Insert Name Here] Gulf problem which has led to Iran protesting anyone referring to "the Arab Gulf,," or even, in the case of Google Maps, which tried to avoid the issue by labeling it "the Gulf," a form I sometimes use on this blog, complaining about that, as well as the airline Gulf Air. But one of the links above is to a case of a Saudi case which went the other way, in which a teacher got in trouble for using "Persian Gulf." In the Middle East Journal, I allow either, since I've learned Iranian authors will protest if you change it to just "the Gulf."

It got past me until now that in Obama's Nowruz message urging Iran to agree to a nuclear deal, he specifically appealed to Iranians "from the coasts of the Caspian Sea to the Persian Gulf."
<

White House Marks Nowruz Early

Ten days early, the White House has celebrated Nowruz.

Note midway through, the First Lady (or her speechwriter) explains the haft sin to a crowd that presumably already knew what it was.

I wonder if the early marking of Nowruz had anything to do with the Republican letter to Iran?

Nowruz Greetings

Before I shut down for the weekend, let me pass on to all my readers who celebrate Nowruz — Iranians, Kurds, Turks, Central Asians, followers of the Zoroastrian and Baha'i faiths, and others — my wishes for a happy new year tomorrow.

As I noted in my Nowruz musings last year, I've always thought having the new year at the vernal equinox was more appropriate than celebrating it in the dead of winter, and especially after the horrible winter Washington endured this year, I'm welcoming spring. A happy new year.

Chahar-Shanbe Suri

Iran is reporting one dead and others injured in the fire celebrations of Chahar-Shanbe Suri, the "Red Wednesday" celebration on the eve of the last Wednesday of the old Persian year. The ancient Persian celebration,k which precedes Nowruz, the Persian New Year, is closely watched by the clerical regime, both for the feast's pre-Islamic Persian content and Zoroastrian echoes, and as a possible outlet for political protest.

Greetings to Iranians and all who celebrate Iranian culture everywhere for Chahar-Shanbe Suri and the approach of Nowruz.


http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/report-one-killed-74-injured-during-observance-of-iranian-annual-fire-festival/2012/03/13/gIQAFIL59R_story.html

Haft Sin

A Haft Sin table setting to mark Nowruz. Haft Sin — seven items beginning with "s" — is one of the traditions of Nowruz; Wikipedia offers an account here.

Chaharshanbe Suri

Fire-jumping (Wikipedia)

Tonight is the eve of the Wednesday before Nowruz, known as Chaharshanbe Suri, "Red Wednesday," an ancient Iranian fire festival marking the waning days of the old year. Celebrated in the same broad areas historically influenced by Persian culture, from Turkey and Kurdistan to India and Central Asia. Celebrations include fire-jumping. Greetings to all who celebrate, as well as early Nowruz wishes a few days early.

Playing with Fire? Banning Chaharshanbe Souri

Supreme Leader/Rahbar Ayatollah Khamene'i has apparently issued a fatwa against Iranians celebrating the ancient Iranian feast/ritual of Chaharshanbe Souri, a feast, the name of which is just "Wednesday feast," and which begins tonight and runs through tomorrow. It is celebrated on the Wednesday before Nowruz, March 21. And there is fire used in the ceremonies.

While some of the references, including the sparse Wikipedia entry, downplay any religious content and portray the feast as essentially an ancient Iranian preparation for Nowruz, I'm sure the element of fire in the ceremonies brand it as essentially a Zoroastrian feast in the eyes of the clerical establishment.

The Zoroastrians or Parsees may be the only religious minority of any size I haven't blogged about, but they're going to have to wait till my spring issue is out.

Again, though, for secular Iranians, it's a traditional, national Iranian celebration and the regime sees it as a pretext for shutting down demonstrations yet again.

But one thing even Khomeini never did was undercut the Persian element in Iranian culture in favoring the Islamic element. I have few doubts this is intended as an Islamic purity move, but also as a way of shutting off public demonstrations.

Nowruz Greetings

Nowruz greetings to all readers who celebrate the ancient Persian new year, Iranians, Kurds, Central Asians, Turks, and others.

Nowruz Mobarak

The Haft Sin

The Ancient Persian New Year, Nowruz, is not just an Iranian holiday marking the Spring Equinox, but one celebrated by a broad swath of countries from the Balkans to Central Asia. I have dealt with many aspects of the tradition in my previous posts through the years, so I will refer you to those posts for for details of the traditional feast.

Coptic Nayrouz, 1726

September 11 will always be a memorable date for Americans, especially those of us who work in New York or Washington and were here that day, but today is also a more pleasant commemoration: it's the Coptic New Year. Since almost everybody else will probably be writing about 9/11, I'll write about Nayrouz.

Nayrouz is usually thought to be derived from Persian Nowruz, which we discussed at some length last spring, but why a Persian word got applied, with different vowels, to a Coptic feast is a little less clear, though most accounts are more are less like the one in Wikipedia, which sees the Coptic name Ni-Yarouou, the Feast of the Rivers (coming as it does just after the flood) as being conflated by early Arab conquerors with Persian Nowruz. Why the Copts themselves would have adopted this corruption is unclear to me.

The Coptic calendar is rather unusual among Christian calendar systems because it does not date from the birth of Christ but from the martyrdoms under the reign of Diocletian, in 284 AD. That was a particular time of trial for the Egyptian church, and is commemorated as the Year of the Martyrs. Also it does not begin in either the spring or in January, but in September. In that it preserves the tradition of the Ancient Egyptian calendar.

So today marks the New Year, the first day of the month of Thout in the Year of the Martyrs 1726, for the Copts of Egypt and the world.