Some 300 million people in Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, India, Iran, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan will mark Nowruz on the 20 March - which celebrates the renewal of nature and the start of a new solar year. Hanieh Khakpour, an Iranian in Glasgow, explains the traditions.

The *haft-sin* - seven items which all have special symobolism

By Hanieh Khakpour | Photos by Elahe

The Persian word, Nowruz (also spelled as Nevruz, Newroz, Novruz) is the day that celebrates the renewal of nature, beginning with the spring equinox. This year it falls on Sunday 20 March.

The two themes of purity and rebirth are important in such celebrations. Nowruz is the first day of Farvardin (the first month of spring) which is officially known as the beginning of the new year in the solar calendar. For many cultures, Nowruz is the equivalent of Scotland’s Hogmanay.

The 21st March 2022 marks the start of the 1401st year in the solar calendar. But Nowruz this year holds even more importance than other years. It is the first day of the 15th century, which is important for all people who honour Nowruz as a tradition of Ancient Persia.

300 million people worldwide mark the 3,000-year-old celebration of Nowruz

Both Iran and Afghanistan consider Nowruz as the first day of their official calendar. However, Nowruz festivity is not limited to these two countries and according to the United Nations, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, India, Iran, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan – countries that were once regions of the Persian Empire – also celebrate it.

These countries have worked together to identify Nowruz as a symbol of cultural diversity and friendship between different peoples and communities. More than 300 million people worldwide celebrate this 3,000-year ancestral festivity. People from different faiths and backgrounds as well as various ethnolinguistic groups each have have their own traditions to mark the occasion.

Elahe, community outreach officer at IMIX, an Iranian who lives in Glasgow, says: “Nowruz is a cultural and national event for us. We believe that Nowruz is an opportunity to start all over again. It’s an opportunity to explore anew, an opportunity for reconsideration. With the rebirth of nature, this message intensifies.”

The symbolism of the seven ‘s’ of haft-sin

In 2010, the UN named 21st March as the ‘International Day of Nowruz’. In doing this it aimed to “make efforts to raise awareness about Nowruz and to organize annual events in commemoration of this festivity”.

It was also included in the List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity of UNESCO in 2009, and recently the Washington City Council approved a resolution which recognised Nowruz as a historical event, and a symbol of starting over.

Nowruz festivity has specific customs, the most significant of which is Haft-sin. It refers to seven (haft) elements, all beginning with the letter ‘s’ (sin) including Sabze (wheat, barley, or lentil sprouts), Samanu (sweet pudding), Senjed (silverberry), Serkeh (vinegar), Sib (apple), Sir (garlic), Sumac. Each has a special meaning: green plants symbolizes rejuvenation and vitality, pudding is a blessing and abundance, sumac as patience, silverberry as inclination to reason, apple as beauty and health, vinegar as immortality and garlic symbolizes health and wellness.

Additional elements have been added to this list over time, including: a mirror, a bowl of water, coins, the Qu’ran, Hafez’s book of poetry. They are all laid out on a table. However, all these customs are not the same in all countries. For example, people in Afghanistan prepare seven fruits called Haft Mēwa.

Elahe has been in Scotland for nine years, and says that: “Every year before arrival Nowruz, I think how I can have a different and creative design for my Haft-sin.”

There are other customs associated with Nowruz too such as house cleaning, cooking rice and fish as a traditional dish, and giving gifts to each other – especially to children and young people. Another tradition is visiting the homes of loved one,s because the essence of this ancient celebration is the ties among peoples based on mutual respect. So, as a custom, people visit each other, and it is important that the young people go to see the elders first.

Glasgow plays host to Nowruz celebrations

As Glasgow is home to people from different nationalities with a number of Iranian people living here, holding Nowruz celebrations has become a part of many migrants traditions.

Elahe points to the Nowruz celebration that the Iranian community holds in Glasgow yearly: “Nowruz is not limited to specific geography. It is the most important cultural element that is taken abroad in all Iranians' suitcases.”