What is Nowruz Spring Holiday and How It's Celebrated Around the Globe

Nowruz is celebrated from March 21 to 23. It acquired official status in the Achaemenid Empire as a religious holiday in Zoroastrianism. Despite the spread of Islam during Arab conquests, Nowruz persisted and continues to be celebrated today. However, it lost its religious essence and simply marks the day of the spring equinox.

Nowruz is currently celebrated as the official start of the new year according to the astronomical solar calendar in Iran and Afghanistan. As a public holiday, Nowruz is celebrated in Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Albania, Kyrgyzstan, Macedonia, Turkiye, and Kazakhstan. There is a folk wisdom that the more generous the holiday, the more prosperous the year will be.

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People gather around colourful eggs in Tehran's Azadi Square as they celebrate Nowruz.

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An Afghan family sits around food laid out on a table inside their home in celebrations ahead of Nowruz which marks the Afghan New Year, in Herat.

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Iraqi Kurds celebrate Nowruz in the town of Akra in Iraq's northern autonomous Kurdish region.

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Iraqi Kurds holding lit torches walk up a mountain during celebrations of Nowruz.

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Millions of people across the Middle East, Asia and Eastern Europe celebrate Nowruz New Year festival.

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In Persian tradition Nowruz is also a day to honor the ultimate ruler - Shahinshah (King of Kings).

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A girl holds in her hands semeni - wheat sprouted in a plate at the celebration of Nowruz in Kazan.

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Nowruz marks the rejuvenation of nature and humanity.

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Girl dances during a celebration of Nowruz in Kazan.

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Cooking shish kebabs at Nowruz celebrations in Baku.

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Fire is important part of Nowruz since it means purification.