Nowruz and scores of customs

Nowruz comprises a number of traditions and customs which have been bequeathed to us from the past generations through millennia. These traditions have been kept and refurbished through the course of time.

The old year is gone by and the new one has arrived with the warm rays of the radiant sun. The splendid feast of the nature has begun. The revival and flourishing of trees and flowers makes people grow different plants; as if they intended to share this feast of the nature. Symbolically speaking, the Nowruz traditions begin a few days before the turn of year and continue till the 13th of Farvardin. Indeed people spend 12 days of Farvardin on visiting relatives and friends. These visits and their relevant customs suggest revival, refreshment, enlivening, joy, cooperation and things like that. It seems that people like to escape from weariness and indolence. They like to be active and happy and, of course, make others happy.

Then on the 13th of Farvardin they pour to the nature and enjoy themselves. Again, this can be a symbol of refreshment and revival. It seems that people are taking refuge in the nature to gain energy and high spirit for a better and more fruitful life. At the end of the Nowruz holidays – 13th of Farvardin - people return to work and business with a fresh spirit and energy; as if a new horizon opened before them. A brief look at the Iranian history shows that Nowruz ceremony, as a spectacular cultural phenomenon, revives joy and hope in people and calls on every Iranian to hold these ceremonies gloriously and fervently. There are many Nowruz traditions though a number of them have been lost through centuries.

Iranians used to hold different ceremonies in the last month of the year (Esfand) to welcome Nowruz. On the first day of this month a ceremony called, “Absalan” used to be held. It was held as a symbol of running streams and waterfalls this ceremony was held with happy and jocular displays called, “Kusesavari”. On the 10th of Esfand a ceremomy was held beside rivers to glorify rivers and water. 19th of Esfand was the day in which people would dredge the springs, streams and waterways and they would even pour perfume and rose water in them.

The 20th of Esfand was called, “Ruz-e Goldan” (Day of Vase). On this day people were engaged in cultivation of flowers, trees and plants. On the 26th day of this month people used to commemorate their deceased and on the last Wednesday of the month they would clean any uncleanness and pollution from houses, gardens and paths. The last day of winter was a busy day in which the ceremony of fertility and greenness of the nature was held with songs and happiness. In the last night of Esfand (the last night of the year) people would kindle a light at home or on top of the roof as a sign of radiation and illumination.

The first day of spring is the day of regeneration, germination and revival of the earth. It is the rebirth of the nature, the flourishing of flowers, ecstatic singing of birds and a national feast of Iranians. The ancient Iranians had put special name on each day of the month. Hence, they called the first day of Farvardin (the first day of spring) as Hormizd. They used to celebrate this day and rejoice in it with supplications to God. The first five days of Farvardin were celebrated publicly but from the 6th day on the nobles and elites would celebrate and hold ceremonies. However, all of these events were accompanied with joy and supplication to God. The ancient Iranians believed that God created the world in six stages the last of which was the stage of creation of human being. Therefore, they considered the day of the first man’s coming to existence as the first day of spring which deserved thankfulness and rejoicing. They also maintained that the spirit of the righteous and pure souls (the hidden powers) would return to the mundane world from the heavenly world to visit their loved ones while seeking charities and good deeds from them.

Therefore, the ancient Iranians used to spend charities to the poor and the needy and pray for the dead. 

On the 13th day of Farvardin people flock to the nature to spend their time in the meadows, gardens and fresh verdure. They usually make foods containing vegetables and legumes. Some people take the green sprouts they have grown at home to the greenery and cast them into running waters. It is believed by a few people that 13 is an unlucky number; though it has no scientific or logic reason. This superstition may have originated in the ancient dogma on the number of zodiac constellations, i.e. 12. To be clearer, there was an old belief that the sky has 12 zodiacs and every newborn has a star in one of the zodiacs. But if someone’s birthday happened after these 12 days (on the 13th of the month), he/she was considered ominous. As we said this is completely baseless.

In the past there were musicians who would congratulate people on the arrival of Nowruz and spring. They would use musical instruments like Sorna (woodwind instrument), Karna (another woodwind instrument), Buq (horn), Tabl (drum) and Dohol (Iranian double drum). Sorna is made up of two parts: Sur (feast) and Nay or Ney (flute). It has been used at festivities and wedding ceremonies since old times. Buq and Karna were used at the time of war or a great event. But they also began to be used at happy events. The woodwind and percussion instruments are still in use during Nowruz and before that. The players of these instruments happily give the tidings of the advent of spring.

RM/SS