Search Results: persian-new-year

• Amoo Norooz

  Mar 19, 2013 0 Comments

  Amu Nowruz or Amoo Norooz (Persian: عَمو نوروز‎) is the "Uncle" of Norooz, the Persian New Year.

  Along with his side-kick Hajji Firuz, Amoo Norooz ushers in the spring time every year according to Persian tradition. On the eve of spring equinox, when the Persian New Year is celebrated, Amoo Norooz brings children gifts, much like his Western counterpart Santa Claus. Along with Amoo Norooz and Haji Firooz, the Persian New Year mythical characters include Naneh Sarma, sometimes called Lady of the Cold Spells, or Grandma Frost.
  Haji Firooz is the announcer of Norooz's arrival while Amoo Norooz is more of a respected—almost always older—character who gives the gifts of Norooz. Haji Firooz is young, playful and clownish, dancing, chanting, and playing his tambourine to bring good cheer. Amoo Norooz, on the other hand, is more of a wise historical presence who passes the old story of Norooz to the young, thus giving the occasion the respect it deserves. Also, Haji Firooz demands Aidee while Amoo Norooz is the giver.
  The first time the character of Amoo Norooz was animated outside of Iran was in 2005, in the cartoon Babak and Friends - A First Norooz.

   

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• Nowrūz

  Mar 19, 2013 0 Comments

  

  Nowrūz (Persian: نوروز‎, IPA: [nouˈɾuːz], meaning "[The] New Day") is the name of the Iranian/Persian New Year in Iranian calendars and the corresponding traditional celebrations. Nowruz is also widely referred to as the "Persian New Year".
  Nowruz is celebrated and observed by People of Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and the related cultural continent and has spread in many other parts of the world, including other parts of Central Asia, Caucasus, South Asia, Northwestern China, the Crimea and some groups in the Balkans.

  Nowruz marks the first day of spring and the beginning of the year in the Persian calendar. It is celebrated on the day of the astronomical Northward equinox, which usually occurs on March 21 or the previous/following day depending on where it is observed. As well as being a Zoroastrian holiday and having significance amongst the Zoroastrian ancestors of modern Iranians and Afghans. it is also celebrated in parts of the South Asian sub-continent as the new year. The moment the Sun crosses the celestial equator and equalizes night and day is calculated exactly every year and Iranian families gather together to observe the rituals.

  Originally being a Zoroastrian festival, and the holiest of them all, Nowruz is believed to have been invented by Zoroaster himself, although there is no clear date of origin. Since the Achaemenid era the official year has begun with the New Day when the Sun leaves the zodiac of Pisces and enters the zodiacal sign of Aries, signifying the Spring Equinox. Nowruz is also a holy day for Sufis, Ismailis, Alawites,Alevis, Babis and adherents of the Bahá'í Faith.
  The term Nowruz in writing first appeared in Persian records in the 2nd century AD, but it was also an important day during the time of the Achaemenids c. 548–330 BC), where kings from different nations under the Persian empire used to bring gifts to the Emperor, also called King of Kings (Shahanshah), of Persia on Nowruz. The significance of Nowruz in the Achaemenid empire was such that the great Persian king Cambyses II's appointment as the king of Babylon was legitimized only after his participation in the New Year festival (Nowruz).

  The UN's General Assembly in 2010 recognized the International Day of Nowruz, describing it a spring festival of Persian origin which has been celebrated for over 3,000 years.[25][26] During the meeting of The Inter-governmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Heritage of the United Nations, held between 28 September – 2 October 2009 in Abu Dhabi, Nowrūz was officially registered on the UNESCO 

   

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