This coming Sunday is Nowruz, which marks the first day of spring and the beginning of the year 1389 on the Persian calendar.
Nowruz, which means ‘new day’, is celebrated around the world by Persians and many others. It is a public holiday in Iran, Afghanistan, and other nations of Central and Western Asia, taking place at the exact time of the spring equinox and symbolizing the changing of the seasons and the renewal of life.
For those celebrating in Canada, Nowruz is a time to visit family and friends, exchange gifts, and share special foods.
On Sīzdah be-dar, the 13th and final day of Nowruz festivities, it is customary to spend the day outdoors. This serves to clear the mind of bad thoughts and feelings and replace them with laughter and feelings of joy and solidarity.
An important Nowruz tradition is the ancient custom of setting the haft sin table: haft is the Persian word for seven, and sin corresponds to the Persian letter ‘s’. Seven symbolic items beginning with ‘s’ are placed on the haft sin table.
In September 2009, Nowruz was officially registered on the UNESCO List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
For all Canadians, Nowruz provides an excellent opportunity to reflect on the tremendous contributions that people of Persian heritage have made to this country’s rich and diverse heritage.
As Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, I extend my best wishes for a healthy and happy holiday to everyone celebrating Nowruz in the days ahead.
