Nowruz; Legacy of ancient Iran

Let us today touch upon the past record of Nowruz and the thoughts that have contributed to its formation and lasting.

Nowruz has stayed for centuries in this vast land and has even spread beyond geographical boundaries. Perhaps, one of the origins of Nowruz dates back to the agricultural communities in ancient Iran. People in those days would gather together in and out of the cities and villages and would enjoy themselves. This feast turned into a public ceremony due to its attractions and separation from personal and political propensities. Gradually it got significance and drew the attention of the ruling class so that they chose it as their official ceremony.

Iranian mathematician, astronomer and polymath of the fourth century AH (10^th and 11^th AD) Abu Reyhan Biruni believed that Nowruz is the feast of regeneration of creation and it is the day which urges people to renovate and freshen up their past and their soul. Nowruz corresponding with March 21^st marks the beginning of the New Year and is one of the oldest feasts in the world. It starts with the moment of turning the year and Vernal Equinox.

The exact origin of Nowruz is not clear but the historical accounts say that it has been popular since 538 BC i.e. the rule of the Achaemenid Emperor Cyrus. Cyrus officially declared Nowruz as a national feast and used to put into practice certain programs such as promotion of soldiers, cleaning of public places and private houses and granting amnesty to the convicts.

During the era of Darius I, another Achaemenid king, Nowruz ceremonies used to be held at Takht-e Jamshid (Persepolis) near Shiraz. Research on the inscriptions proves that people in the Achaemenid era would hold Nowruz very gloriously. Documents and evidences show that Darius I minted golden coins in 416 BC with the design of a soldier in the state of shooting arrow. The Ashkanian and Sassanids also glorified Nowruz as the most important feast of Iranians. During the Sassanid era Nowruz feast took several days to hold and it was divided to Lesser Nowruz and Greater Nowruz.

After the arrival of Islam in Iran and embracing of this divine religion by Iranians Nowruz was held more widely during the Samanid and Ale Buyeh (Buwaihid) dynasties. In the time of the Saljuq rulers a number of the Iranian astronomers like Omar Khayyam cooperated with each other to prepare the Iranian calendar. These scientists took the start of spring (first day of Farvardin) as a fixed day to base their calendar upon.

According to this calendar, which became famous as Jalali Calendar, the beginning of spring was determined as Nowruz; and to fix this day as Nowruz it was decided that every four year the days of the year would be 366 instead of the usual 365. However, this calendar was not officially recognized before the Constitutional Movement.

In addition to the historical narrations and documents, there are mythological accounts on the record of Nowruz, too. In Shahnameh, the epic masterpiece of Ferdwosi, and Tarikh Tabari there are some instances of this record. In these books sometimes Jamshid and at other times Kiumars are introduced as the founders of Nowruz. The era of Jamshid’s rule is mentioned as the Golden Age when every bounty existed and people were at the peak of wealth and welfare. In Shahnameh it is narrated that Jamshid, while passing through Azarbaijan, ordered a throne be prepared for him and he sat on the throne with a golden crown. As the sunlight shone his crown the world was illuminated and people rejoiced; hence the day was named as Nowruz, meaning the new day. Nowruznameh is one of the most credible sources on Nowruz. It was written by Omar Khayyam Neishaburi in 1101 AD. The book deals with the emergence of Nowruz and its traditions with a reference to historical and mythical accounts. Khayyam writes, “Jamshid used the name Nowruz for the first time and founded ceremonies and feast. After him other kings and people followed his role model.”

The name of Nowruz has interlinked with the name of Khayyam. Although he was a scientist and mathematician he has noted the change of time and rotation of seasons seriously in his poems. He has composed poems on spring, Nowruz and aging of man.

RM/ME