Kicking off the year 1394/start of spring with an all-new blog layout, a bit of Iranian culture, and of course, a massive giveaway. Because how can you say happy new years without cash?
Iranian New Years, quite simply, is a combination of all of your best holidays in the West: we color eggs, read poetry, clean things, buy things, go on picnics, play with fireworks, jump over fire, eat incessantly, and spend time with family and friends. For 13 days.
Iranian New Years (Nooruz) has been observed in Iran and neighboring countries for thousands of years and celebrates the new life and growth that marks the first day of spring. While some aspects of Nooruz are based in Zoroastrian tradition, it is a secular holiday celebrated by any and all faiths.
The Wednesday before Nooruz is called Chahar Shanbe Suri and involves lighting things on fire and yelling. It's really quite great. Traditionally, Iranians create small bonfires in the streets and shout "Zardie man az to, sorkhie to az man," or "May me sickly pallor be yours and your red glow be mine" while jumping over the flames. In doing so, this little act symbolizes the cleansing of all of last year's unpleasantness.
Leading up to Nooruz (my family is guilty of putting this together always the morning of) we set up a Haft-Seen table, or table of 7-things-that-beings-with-the-letter-S. I talked more about what exactly we put and what each item symbolizes in my Iranian New Years post last year, so you can read more about this tradition there!
On the 13th day after the start of spring, or the day of Sizdeh Bedar (Farsi for "getting rid of the 13th") Iranian families take to the parks and spend the entire day outdoors picnicking, dancing, consuming food, and spending time with friends and family. This day is the last day of the holidays and is considered bad luck to be indoors.
As Iranian New Years is also a time of giving (more specifically a time of ca$h money), I decided to team up with several other bloggers and giveaway $800 (via paypal) to whoever the Rafflecoptor gods deem is most excited about spring (or maybe through algorithms or something).
The giveaway begins right at spring (3/20 5:00 CST ) and ends 4/17 and is open internationally. You can enter using the Rafflecoptor below:
Iranian New Years, quite simply, is a combination of all of your best holidays in the West: we color eggs, read poetry, clean things, buy things, go on picnics, play with fireworks, jump over fire, eat incessantly, and spend time with family and friends. For 13 days.
Iranian New Years (Nooruz) has been observed in Iran and neighboring countries for thousands of years and celebrates the new life and growth that marks the first day of spring. While some aspects of Nooruz are based in Zoroastrian tradition, it is a secular holiday celebrated by any and all faiths.
The Wednesday before Nooruz is called Chahar Shanbe Suri and involves lighting things on fire and yelling. It's really quite great. Traditionally, Iranians create small bonfires in the streets and shout "Zardie man az to, sorkhie to az man," or "May me sickly pallor be yours and your red glow be mine" while jumping over the flames. In doing so, this little act symbolizes the cleansing of all of last year's unpleasantness.
Leading up to Nooruz (my family is guilty of putting this together always the morning of) we set up a Haft-Seen table, or table of 7-things-that-beings-with-the-letter-S. I talked more about what exactly we put and what each item symbolizes in my Iranian New Years post last year, so you can read more about this tradition there!
On the 13th day after the start of spring, or the day of Sizdeh Bedar (Farsi for "getting rid of the 13th") Iranian families take to the parks and spend the entire day outdoors picnicking, dancing, consuming food, and spending time with friends and family. This day is the last day of the holidays and is considered bad luck to be indoors.
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As Iranian New Years is also a time of giving (more specifically a time of ca$h money), I decided to team up with several other bloggers and giveaway $800 (via paypal) to whoever the Rafflecoptor gods deem is most excited about spring (or maybe through algorithms or something).
The giveaway begins right at spring (3/20 5:00 CST ) and ends 4/17 and is open internationally. You can enter using the Rafflecoptor below:
Good luck and سال نو مبارک Saleh Noh Mobarak! (Happy New Years!)
<(')
-share some spring lovin'-
Photo source: (first) shagreen; (second, left) The Tehran Times
Happy new year! Happy first day of spring! and happy Happiness day! :) Thank you for sharing this. I had no idea there was an iranian new year. It sounds like fun
ReplyDeleteRhizlaine
great post. i wish you a wonderful time celebrating!
ReplyDeletelove, liz
www.stylewich.com
Happy new year! Beautiful photos, thanks for sharing! ❤
ReplyDeletemunchies&musings
Happy New Year to you and this is such a refreshing read. I had no idea about this at all or the fact that Iranian has their own New Year celebration so it's so lovely to learn about it.
ReplyDeleteShireen | Reflection of Sanity
I have probably already told you this, but my old boss actually kept her Nooruz goldfish alive for more than a month a couple years ago and they're still going strong (probably because my old coworker cleans their tank)! - Style Wise
ReplyDeleteSounds very lovely :)
ReplyDeleteFlorals&Smiles
Twitter
Also, I have NO IDEA how to correctly use the entry form. There are all these "blog follows" lines that don't point me anywhere.
ReplyDeleteMerci! Thank you! Hooray for all of the happiness! Hope your day was full of joy and life <3
ReplyDeleteThank you! Happy first day of spring to you!
ReplyDeleteThank you Rebecca! xx Wishing you and your family a wonderful spring!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Shireen! <3 Iran has a loot of traditions that not many people know about (that have also been celebrated for thousands of years!) ;) Thank you for reading and I wish you a beautiful spring!
ReplyDeleteThank you! Happy spring & international happiness day!
ReplyDeleteHaha yes, I remember this! I can't believe they are still alive! That is incredibly impressive, especially since ours don't last much longer than a few days (great symbol of life, no? hahah)
ReplyDeleteAh, my apologies on the confusing entry form--it's a collaboration with quite a few bloggers, so it's rather massive, haha. Basically each "entry" on this widget takes you to another blogger's page who has several links of instagrams, twitters, etc, following which, will give you the entry. :) I hope that's semi-clear! Let me know if you're still having trouble!
Happy new year to you! Sounds like a beautiful and interesting tradition and way to celebrate new years.
ReplyDelete