Norouz; Festivity of Creation (3)

Let’s experience spring, which is a divine miracle. Spring is the season of blossoms. If you intend to, and work hard, you could also resemble the spring season. You will flourish and grow. Listen. The voice of love is reflected within the universe; and the entire world is grateful for this divine blessing.

The planet is breathing once again. Spring has arrived. The migrant birds herald the arrival of spring. The velvets, next to river banks, are reminders of the arrival of spring season. Let’s make the best of this divine blessing.

Spring is a divine gift, which displays a mystical and poetic fervor. Spring is a divine gift which grants us freedom and teaches us how to flourish and blossom.

Throughout Norouz many travel to other regions of their country; diversifying their daily lives.

New Year journeys set the stage for reinforcement of amicable bonds between the people of different regions. The holy cities of Iran, such as Mashhad and Qom, as well as historical cities such as Isfahan, Shiraz, Yazd, and Kerman, are the top tourist destinations for Iranians. Many also travel to northern Iran, which maintains a moderate climate in the spring season. Others choose to travel to southern Iran, to enjoy viewing the pristine waters of Persian Gulf. We invite you to accompany us in our journeys to Iran’s tourist attraction sites.

Northern Iran’s Caspian Sea coastlines, ever-green forested regions, foothills, forest parks, and mineral springs capture the attention of visitors all year long. However, in the spring season, the three provinces of Mazandaran, Gilan, and Golestan are host to millions of Iranians who head for these scenic regions to enjoy their New Year holidays throughout the unique landscapes of northern Iran. The unique landscapes of this region also include vast paddy fields, citrus fruit orchards, and tea farms, which coupled with wooden houses with ceramic rooftops, have granted especial beauty to northern Iran.

Southern Iran also has a lot to offer in the spring season. Southern Iran cities, which maintain moderate climates in this part of the year, catch the attention of many tourists. Khuzestan Province, the land of sunshine and palm trees, is a top tourist destination in the New Year holidays. The Islands of Kish and Qeshm are host to many travelers in the spring season. The beauties of Kish are etched in the memory of all those who travel to this pretty island in spring, finding a chance to visit the white dunes, the pristine waters of Persian Gulf, and the multiple shopping centers of this tiny Island.

Meanwhile, Qeshm Island is home to mangrove forests, and is the habitat and shelter of a wide variety of local and migrant birds.

The beauties of Iran’s nature are not just limited to northern and southern Iran. Throughout spring, Iran’s mountainous regions enchant the newcomers. Kurdistan Province in western Iran maintains a 5,000-year civilization, with warm and hospitable residents, a mild climate, an intact and beautiful nature, and astounding lakes, offering scenic landscapes in the spring season.

The city of Shiraz is the hub of Iranian culture, literature, and arts, hosting countless visitors in New Year holidays. Although the city of Shiraz is mainly known worldwide as a city of historical monuments, accommodating historical feats such as Takht-e Jamshid and Pasargad, this city also maintains a beautiful nature in spring. The ever-green orchards of this city are host to hundreds of thousands of passengers, who travel to this city. Among these orchards, Eram Orchard in Shiraz is one of a kind with its tall cypress trees and traditional and original Iranian architecture. Other parts of Fars Province also display innumerable scenic landscapes such as lakes, wetlands, waterfalls, and vast plains covered with velvets and tulips, luring every newcomer, who travels to this region.

No national tradition is as widely approved as Norouz in Iran’s culture. Researchers believe that this ancient festivity maintains multiple, legendary aspects, which interpret man’s life in previous centuries. Within every deep-rooted social ceremony, culture, and custom; the beliefs and thoughts of ancestors can be rediscovered and bonded with the contemporary life. Gradually, this legendary ceremony has turned into a part of our national and religious beliefs and ceremonies.

Norouz has been celebrated in a particular moment of the beginning of spring for many years; as if though the world is born in that moment. The precise calculation of this moment up to minutes and seconds shows and portrays the significance of this moment for Iranians. The importance of the beginning moment of New Year also displays man’s bond with nature.

Iranians have always paid an especial attention to Norouz. They consider Norouz as the first day of spring, marking this occasion by holding detailed symbolic ceremonies. Based on this standpoint, Iranians have attached significant importance to nature.

Birth and fertility are clearly evident in New Year ceremonies. Also placement of eggs in Haftsin Tablecloth shows the belief of Iranians in the importance of life and birth. Remembrance of the deceased on the verge of spring also shows that Iranians have always had faith in life after death and Hereafter.

Based on Eastern and Iranian beliefs, many of the elements of nature are also embedded in humans; and mankind, similar to nature, can resurrect after an apparent death, to lead a more dynamic life. This is a belief that many divine religions have emphasized. According to the divine religion of Islam; after death, mankind enters another phase in life.

Family as the first and most important unit of the society has always captured the attention of sociologists. Reinforcement of emotional bonds between family members, and formation of a safe and assuring environment for the family will highly contribute to happiness of the family members. A sense of belonging, peace of mind, love of children, and establishment of an environment in which children feel safe in the company of their parents, automatically contribute to personal and social happiness. This is possibly the reason behind the emphasis of Norouz traditions on visiting and keeping the company of family members.

Professor Robert Putnam from Harvard University, based on a research has concluded that maintenance of appropriate social and familial relations highly contribute to human happiness.

The Joy resulting from feeling the refreshing moments of spring is rather unique. God in Holy Quran emphasizes that mankind should contemplate about nature in spring and should go on journeys.

The 20^th ayah of Surat al-‘Ankabout notes: “Say, ‘Travel over the land and they observe how He has originated the creation.’ Then Allah shall bring about the genesis of the Hereafter. Indeed Allah has power over all things.”

In the view of religious leaders, travel dispels sadness and refreshes human spirit.

Feeling happy in Norouz and spring season can mentally assist humans in dealing with others and negative phenomena; enabling them to overcome problems and hardships; and even benefitting others from this positive energy.

MR/MG