Nowruz: Celebrating the Persian New Year Nowruz, which means "New Day" in Persian, is the Persian New Year, celebrated on the first day of spring. It is a time to celebrate new beginnings, renewal, and the hope of a prosperous year ahead. Nowruz is an important holiday for people of Persian descent and is also celebrated in other countries including Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Tajikistan. History and Tradition Nowruz has been celebrated for over 3,000 years and has its roots in Zoroastrianism, an ancient Persian religion. The festival is celebrated on the day of the vernal equinox, which usually falls on March 20th or 21st. It marks the beginning of the Persian calendar, which is based on the solar year. The preparation for Nowruz usually starts weeks in advance. People begin cleaning their homes and buying new clothes to wear on the day of the celebration. They also decorate their homes with flowers and special decorations, such as the Haft-Seen, a traditional t...