NOWRUZ - PERSIAN NEW YEAR

While the Western calendar celebrates the beginning of the year in January, millions of people around the world celebrated the start of 2025 on March 20 with Nowruz - the Persian New Year - coinciding with the spring equinox.

With origins dating back more than 3,000 years in ancient Persia, Nowruz marks the first day of the year that begins on a date that usually falls between March 19 and 22. Recognized in February 2010 by the UN as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, Nowruz is celebrated not only in Iran but also in several Central Asian countries, reaching as far as Europe, such as Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Albania, Georgia and Kosovo.

The roots of Nowruz are linked to Zoroastrianism, the predominant religion in ancient Persia before the arrival of Islam. The celebration of the beginning of spring represented the triumph of light over darkness and the beginning of life anew.

The weeks leading up to Nowruz are marked by elaborate rituals in preparation for welcoming the new year. One of the most important is khaneh tekani - a deep cleaning of the home, symbolizing the elimination of physical and spiritual impurities accumulated throughout the year.

The tradition of Haft-Sin, a decorative table made up of seven objects that begin with the letter “S” in Persian, is another central element. Each object carries a symbolic meaning: sabzeh (lentils) represent rebirth; seer (garlic), protection; senjed (the fruit of the wild olive tree), love; samanu (a sweet pudding made from sprouted wheat), fertility; seeb (the apple), beauty and health; somagh (sumac), sunrise and new beginnings; and serkeh (vinegar), symbolizing patience. It is common for the table to also include a mirror, hyacinth flowers, colored eggs, coins and a holy book or poetry.

On the eve of the last Wednesday of the old year, Chaharshanbe Suri is celebrated. That night, bonfires are lit in the streets and people jump over the flames as a form of purification, hoping that the fire will take away everything negative.

The arrival of Nowruz is marked by family gatherings, the exchange of gifts and wishes for prosperity. The exact moment of the equinox is eagerly awaited, and the date is celebrated with special meals and visits to relatives and neighbors, strengthening the bonds between the community.

The festivities last 13 days, ending with Sizdah Bedar, when families go out for picnics in parks and green areas. On this last day, it is traditional to throw the lentils grown in the previous weeks into the ground, as a way of giving back to the earth what came from it - a symbolic gesture of gratitude and renewal, continuing the cycles of nature. In Portugal they were celebrated with two traditional music concerts, organized by the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran, at the Orient Museum and the Olga Cadaval Cultural Centre.