IRANIAN NEW YEAR (NOW-ROOZ)

Since Ackaemenid times, Now-Rooz (New Year's Day) has been celebrated as the greatest Iranian national festival. It marked the first day of the Iranian Solar year and it was associated with the Zoroastrian feast of Rapithwin, lord of the noonday, heat and of the seventh months of summer. Each year, when the demon winter invaded the earth, Rapithwin retreated under the ground and for five months kept the planets and trees alive by keeping the underground waters warm. On Rapithwins's annual return to earth in the spring, the seemingly dead plants and trees put forth new leaves.

In popular (Iranian/Persian) legend, Now-Rooz was said to have been instituted by mythical Iranian king Yima, or Jamshid. According to the shahnameh, (Note 1)Jamshid, with the aid of the royal glory (Farr), "fashioned a marvelous throne", which at his bidding was lifted by demons into the air. He sat upon that throne like the sun in the firmament. To celebrate, that day was called a new day -the festival of Now-Rooz- the first day of the new year.

From Ackaemenid times onwards, Now-Rooz occurred at the vernal equinox, when the sun entered the zodiacal sign of Aries (usually 21st of March). The festival has always been associated with popular celebrations. In Sassanid times, the Iranian kings held a great feast, and a levee was held at which their subjects presented them with gifts (2). In the streets, the people sprinkled one another with water (Abrizi), and lit fires. because of the association of New Year's day with the day of creation. Now-Rooz has always been a joyous feast. It is considered an auspicious day for weddings; for conducting commercial transactions; and for travel. Anyone born on New Year's day will be found within eight days. Anyone who is sick on New Year's day will recover within eight days.

After the conquest of Iran by the Arabs (3) in 7th century AD., the ancient religion of Iran, Zoroastrianism was superseded by Islam, the religion of the conquerors. Now_Rooz was not represented in the Muslim calendar, which was based on a lunar year, and for a time the festival was considered to have been abrogated by Islam. Eventually, however, when the Iranians adopted a heterodox form of Islam, Ithna' Ashari Shi'ism, strenuous efforts were made by the Shi'i Foghaha (Jurisprudence) to associate various events in the Muslim tradition with Now-Rooz. The fullest details are to be found in the Baha'ar Al-Anwa'ar of 17th century jurisprudence Mohammed Bager Majlesi.

In modern times, the last Wednesday of the old year has been observed as a special feast, called Tcha'ha'r Shan'beh Souri. It is the custom on this night to have a small new earthen water pot ready to put into it a piece of coin, a piece of charcoal and some seeds and to place it on top of a wall, or on the roof which overlooks the street, then to throw it down below. With it goes all the grief and misfortune which the coming year might bring. Dried thorns are placed in several piles, unusually seven, (one for each day of the week) a few feet apart, and are set on fire. Then for the joy that the winter is over the members of the household, the friends and neighbors who may be present, jump over the piles of burning thorns while chanting "MY Yellow color I give it to THEE and your Red color THOU give it to me"

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