Persian New Year 1396

For Iranians, Norooz is a celebration of renewal and rebirth.

The Persian New Year is called Norooz (also Nowruz, Nawroz, among other spellings) and marks the first day of spring. It’s also the Baha’i New Year, but the holiday is celebrated by Iranians of all religions.

History Norooz celebrates renewal and rebirth, symbolized by the coming of spring. It is partly rooted in the Zoroastrian tradition, but is an ancient holiday that was celebrated thousands of years ago. Now, it is also an important Iranian cultural holiday that spans many religious traditions. The word Norooz is a compound word that blends together the Persian words “no” which means “new,” and “rooz” which means “day.”

Dates In 2017, Norooz will begin on March 20 at 6:28:40 am EST. The exact moment of the new year is called Tahvil. Norooz lasts 13 days in Iran. It coincides with the vernal equinox, so its date in the Gregorian calendar changes every year.