Ottawa, March 19, 2011 — The Honourable Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, issued the following statement to recognize Nowruz, the Persian New Year:
“This Sunday is Nowruz, which marks the start of spring and the beginning of a new year on the Persian calendar.
“Nowruz, which means ‘new day,’ is celebrated around the world by people of all faiths that trace their history back to the ancient Persian Empire. 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 of great joy, to visit family and friends, exchange gifts and share special foods.
“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’. Families and friends gather at the haft sin table, which is set with seven special items beginning with ‘s’ to symbolize their beliefs and values.
“Nowruz always begins on the first day of spring, and Nowruz festivities last for 13 days. 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.
“In September 2009, UNESCO officially registered Nowruz on the List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This designation recognizes the importance of understanding the traditions of different communities, which promotes intercultural understanding and encourages mutual respect.
“For all Canadians, Nowruz provides an 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 to everyone celebrating Nowruz in the days ahead.”
For further information (media only), please contact:
Alykhan Velshi
Minister’s Office
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
Media Relations
Communications Branch
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
613-952-1650
CIC-Media-Relations@cic.gc.ca
