If you’re reading this Muslim Connect when it drops and you’re in the northern hemisphere, welcome Spring! Here in Colorado, Spring is more of a promise today than a reality, but we greet it, like Abraham, from afar! The Earth is reborn, dead things come to life, we’re reminded of the nature of God, bringing life and renewal from death and destruction.
In Iran and regions thereabouts the spring celebration is called Nowruz. With ancient roots in Zoroastrianism, Nowruz predates Islam, but is celebrated by Persian Muslims, Christians and others. Here are five cool things to know about Nowruz and one way to pray today.
- Nowruz, meaning “new day” in Persian, embodies themes of renewal, rebirth and the triumph of light over darkness.
- Nowruz involves a blend of spiritual, cultural and practical activities. As with Easter, Christians in Iran and beyond pick and choose the aspects of Nowruz they participate in.
- Similar to an American Christmas tree, the centerpiece of Nowruz celebrations is a Haft-Seen table, adorned with seven symbolic items starting with the letter “S” in Persian — apples, garlic, sumac, vinegar, wheat or barley sprouts, sweet pudding and dried fruit. (And sometimes a goldfish!)
- Nowruz is preceded by a time of spring cleaning called KhÄne-takÄnÄ« (literally: Shake the house!) that involves “washing carpets, painting the house, and cleaning the yard and attic.”
- According to Chai and Conversation, “It’s extremely important to get in touch with everyone you know after Nowruz to wish them a happy new year. You can use the phrase nowruz mobarak to say happy new year, or nowruz pirouz, meaning may it be a victorious new year. . .”
Pray with me on this Nowruz that Persian Muslims would experience a spiritual spring and Persian Christians would sense the Holy Spirit’s leading as they celebrate. And that as the two groups gather and intermingle, words of wisdom would be whispered and shouts of joy raised as the life that is truly life continues and increasingly comes to Persians in Tehran, the rest of Iran, and throughout the world. Amen