Nowruz 1406: Persian New Year
The Persian New Year begins with spring, to the exact second. See when the year turns and everything that belongs to Nowruz.
Until the Tahvil-e Sal
- Tahvil-e Sal (Tehran time)
- 29 Esfand 1405 · March 20, 2027, 23:54
- Your local time
- Chaharshanbe Suri
- March 16, 2027, evening
- 1 Farvardin (New Year’s Day)
- 1 Farvardin 1406 · March 21, 2027
- Sizdah Bedar
- 13 Farvardin 1406 · April 2, 2027
Calculated from the astronomical spring equinox, accurate to about one minute. The official second is announced by the Institute of Geophysics of the University of Tehran.
What is Nowruz?
Nowruz means “new day” and is the Persian New Year. It begins at the exact moment the sun reaches the spring equinox: the Tahvil-e Sal, the turn of the year. For more than 3,000 years people in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Kurdistan and far beyond have celebrated the start of spring. UNESCO lists Nowruz as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
The Haft-Sin table
For the new year the family sets the Haft-Sin: seven things whose Persian names begin with the letter S (س). Each stands for a wish for the new year. A mirror, candles, painted eggs, a goldfish, coins, a Divan of Hafez or a holy book and hyacinths are added.
- سبزهSabzehWheat or lentil sproutsRebirth and growth
- سمنوSamanuSweet wheat germ puddingStrength and plenty
- سنجدSenjedDried oleaster fruitLove
- سیرSirGarlicHealth
- سیبSibAppleBeauty
- سماقSomaghSumacColour of sunrise: good prevails
- سرکهSerkehVinegarPatience and age
Customs around Nowruz
Khaneh Tekani
The big spring cleaning in the weeks before Nowruz. The house is cleaned from top to bottom so the new year begins fresh. Often everyone gets new clothes, too.
Chaharshanbe Suri
On the evening of the last Tuesday before Nowruz everyone jumps over small fires and calls out: “Zardi-ye man az to, sorkhi-ye to az man”, my paleness to you, your redness to me. The fire takes away the illness and sorrow of the old year. Children go from door to door banging spoons (ghashogh-zani).
Tahvil-e Sal
The family gathers in new clothes around the Haft-Sin and waits for the exact second of the new year. People pray or read Hafez, then everyone hugs, wishes “Eyd-etoon mobarak” and the elders hand out eydi, money gifts kept in a book or envelope.
Did-o-Bazdid
In the first days of the year people visit each other, starting with the oldest in the family. There is tea, sweets, ajil and fruit. On New Year’s Eve the traditional dish is sabzi polo ba mahi, herb rice with fish.
Sizdah Bedar
On the 13th day of the year the whole family goes for a picnic in nature. The sabzeh from the Haft-Sin is thrown into running water and takes all bad luck with it. Young singles tie blades of grass together and wish for a partner.
New Year greetings
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نوروزتان پیروز
Nowruz-etan piruz · A victorious Nowruz!
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عیدتان مبارک
Eyd-etoon mobarak · Happy holiday!
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سال نو مبارک
Sal-e no mobarak · Happy New Year!
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هر روزتان نوروز، نوروزتان پیروز
Har roozetan nowruz, nowruzetan piruz · May every day be Nowruz for you, and your Nowruz victorious.
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صد سال به این سالها
Sad sal be in sal-ha · To a hundred more years like this!