Nowruz in Iran: Traditions of the Persian New Year
Haft-Seen, Chaharshanbe Suri and Sizdah Bedar
Nowruz, the Persian New Year, marks the arrival of spring and the start of a new year in the Iranian calendar. Families prepare with spring cleaning, a Haft-Seen table and visits to relatives.
Nowruz predates Islam and remains a shared cultural celebration among people of different religious backgrounds. Today, families across Iran and neighbouring regions mark the arrival of spring with their own local traditions.
Nowruz falls at the spring equinox. Across Iran, families welcome the new year through shared meals, visits and seasonal customs, with traditions that vary between regions and households.
Nowruz Traditions in Iran
Nowruz traditions have evolved over centuries and differ across regions and families. Many customs centre on renewal, hospitality and spending time together. The celebrations below offer a closer look at two familiar traditions: Chaharshanbe Suri and the Haft-Seen table.
Chaharshanbe Suri: The Fire Festival
On the evening before the last Wednesday of the Iranian year, some families and communities mark Chaharshanbe Suri with bonfires and gatherings. Customs vary, and visitors should follow local safety guidance, particularly where fireworks are used.
Haft-Seen: The Nowruz Table
Families often clean and decorate their homes before Nowruz. A Haft-Seen table traditionally displays seven symbolic items whose Persian names begin with the letter ‘s’. Some families also include a religious text (the Qur’an, the Avesta, or even the Odes of Hafez) and may also include a mirror, candles or poetry.
There is also a plate of sprouts, symbolizing new vegetable life, which are kept till the thirteenth day of Nowruz, known as Sizdah Bedar. Many families spend time outdoors on this day, marking the close of the Nowruz celebrations.
At the spring equinox, some families gather to welcome the new year together, exchange greetings and celebrate with relatives.
During the Nowruz holiday period, many families visit relatives and friends. Opening hours and transport schedules may change, so travellers should check arrangements in advance.
Nowruz is celebrated in Iran and in communities across Central Asia, the Caucasus and the Balkans, with customs that vary by place and household.
Nowruz is recognised as a shared cultural tradition by UNESCO. Celebrations vary across communities, but the season offers many opportunities to experience local customs and family gatherings.
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