NoRooz (Iranian New Year) in 2008 - Part I

NoRooz (also varied spellings such as: NowRooz, NoRouz, Nowruz) meaning “New Day” in Persian is the oldest and most significant National Holiday for Iranians of all ethnicities and religions.

Those of the Iranian stock in Kurdistan, Tajikistan, Republic of Azarbaijan, Afghanistan as well as those in Central, and South Asia, Northwestern China, the Caucasus, the Crimea, and the Balkans also celebrate NoRooz. Iran’s neighboring countries Georgia, Iraq, Syria, and Turkey, as examples, now also note the beginning of spring on vernal equinox around March 20 or 21.

NoRooz, similar to many other traditions & festivities in Iran, has its origins in Zoroastrianism.  Zoroastrian celebrations are closely linked to agricultural cycles and seasonal changes. In his timeless ecological message, Zoroaster taught respect for Ahura Mazda’s creations (humans, animals, and plants) and elements (sun, earth, fire, and water) emphasizing the harmony between man and nature.

Zoroastrians, in addition to NoRooz (1st of Farvardin which is considered ”little or common NoRooz”), also celebrate Zoroaster’s birthday which falls on March 26 (6th of Farvardin in Iranian Calendar) - this date is more significant & special for the Zoroastrians.

Since the Sassanian Period, the celebrations for NoRooz (New Day) and Sal e No (New Year) have begun on the first day of Spring (vernal equinox in the northern hemisphere). Broadly, the year is divided into two parts: the beginning of Summer (spring equinox) and the beginning of Winter (autumn equinox). Therefore, traditionally, two key festivities take place; NoRooz at spring equinox and Mehregan at autumn equinox. Both celebrations have, in parts, similar rituals.

Throughout history, Iranians have continued to celebrate Norooz under Arab, Turk and Monghol occupation.

Epic

The epic takes NoRooz back to King Jamshid as said in Shahnameh of Ferdowsi. After a series of harsh and severe winters, King Jamshid celebrated the arrival of spring for his subjects with great abundance and joy and thus the celebration of NoRooz became an annual event. It is said that King Jamshid’s rule which lasted for several hundred years, was a glorious one of prosperity and happiness. NoRooz did not end with Jamshid’s passing, but rather was strengthened through the centuries to become the all encompassing and glorious celebration of rebirth and renewal that it is today.

During the Sassanian time (224 to 652 CE), preparations began at least 25 days before NoRrooz. Twelve pillars of mud bricks, each dedicated to one month of the year, were erected in the royal court. Vegetable seeds - wheat, barley, lentils, beans, and others were sown on top of the pillars. They grew into luxurious greens by the New Year Day. On the sixth day, called the Greater NoRooz the King held audience. A general amnesty was declared for convicts of minor crimes. The pillars were removed on the 16th day and the festival came to a close.

Calculations for Vernal Equinox

The New Year in Persianite communities are not based on random faith. Nor are they an arbitrary indicator of the changing seasons. The Persian New Year has astronomical significance. When the Sun crosses directly over the Earth’s equator. This moment is known as the vernal equinox in the Northern Hemisphere. This monumental moment owes its significance to the 23.4 degree tilt of the Earth’s axis. Because of the tilt, we receive the Sun’s rays most directly in the summer.

So, the Iranian New Year is based on factual scientific calculations observing solar system and tropical changes. There would have been no variation in day lengths or temperatures throughout the year if the Earth rotated on an axis perpendicular to the plane of the Earth’s orbit around the Sun.

The three Wise Magi (Moghaan in Persian - picture right), who are mentioned in Bible pointing to the Star (of Bethlehem) that now appears at the top of the Christmas tree in the Western world, did indeed know about Vernal equinox and Winter solstices. They were not magicians or wizards. They were known to be ancient astronomers and were also familiar with astrology. So NoRooz not only marks the end of cold Winter and the rebirth of earth in Spring, but also mathematically relates to the instance when the sun leaves the zodiac of Pisces and enters the zodiac sign of Aries.

However, astrology is very much secondary to the Iranian Calendar, not the basis.  The main differences between Persian and Arabic Calendars are that Arabs have always followed a lunar one & the months are Islamically named. 

The Iranian Calendar is not faith based, nor lunar.  It’s basic principles are based on mathematical calculations, solar and seasonal changes (spring, summer, autumn and winter, each holding three months).  Though, since the Muslim-Arab invasion of Iran, a current one, particularly under the Islamic government, has dated the number of years only based on Arab prophet’s move from Mecca to Medina.  Others date the number of years starting from Cyrus the Great (Achamenids Dynasty) or Zoroaster’s estimated birthdate over 3000 years ago.   

In the Iranian Calendar, the first six months (spring and summer) have 31 days each, and the last five months 30 days each, with the last month of winter (called Esfand in Persian) 29 days, which becomes 30 days every four years in a “leap” year.  See Iranian Solar Calendar  - and - HERE

NoRooz 2008

This coming NoRooz on 20 March 2008, the equinox will coincide with sunrise in Europe. At the time of the equinox the sun will rise at about 4 degrees longitude. This happens to be close to Brussels and Paris. The equinox will be at 05:48:19 hours GMT/UTC while the sun will rise in Brussels at 05:45 and in Paris at 05:53 GMT/UTC.

Sal e Tahvil (precise time for the start of the New Year) will be:

Tehran: Thursday: 09:18:19 AM March 20, 2008
New York:Thursday 01:48:19 AM March 20, 2008
Chicago: Thursday 12:48:19 AM March 20, 2008
Denver: Wednesday 11:48:19 PM March 19, 2008
Los Angeles: Wednesday 10:48:19 PM March 19, 2008
London: Thursday 05:48:19 AM March 20, 2008
Paris: Thursday 06:48:19 AM March 20, 2008
Berlin: Thursday 06:48:19 AM March 20, 2008
Athens: Thursday 07:48:19 AM March 20, 2008
Moscow: Thursday 08:48:19 AM March 20, 2008
Tokyo: Thursday 02:48:19 PM March 20, 2008
Sydney: Thursday 04:48:19 PM March 20, 2008

More on NoRooz, its rituals, traditions and symbols in part II

---

Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)

• Countdown to Norooz - Iranian New Year