Celebrating Nowruz 2025, the Persian New Year, marks the arrival of spring and symbolises renewal and fresh beginnings. This year, Nowruz will be celebrated on March 20.
Celebrating Nowruz 2025: Happy Nowruz 2025
Nowruz, meaning ‘new day’ in Persian, is the celebration of the arrival of spring and represents fresh beginnings. As we bid farewell to the chill of winter and embrace the warmth of spring, millions of people around the world prepare to celebrate Nowruz, the Persian New Year.
It falls on the spring equinox, usually around March 20 or or 21, marking the official arrival of spring.
In 2010, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) added Nowruz to its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, marking the significance of the festival, and the United Nations recognizes March 21 as International Nowruz Day.
The Origins of Nowruz
Originating from Zoroastrianism, this year, Nowruz will be celebrated on March 20, 2025, at 5:01 a.m. This festival has been celebrated for more than 3,000 years and millions of people take part in the celebrations. It is a time when day and night are equal, symbolizing balance, renewal, and the victory of light over darkness.
Nowruz begins on the first day of the Persian calendar and lasts for 13 days, it will end with ‘Sizdah Bedar’ wherein people spend time outdoors. It is usually celebrated by nearly 300 million people across Iran, Azerbaijan, Afghanistan and Central Asia and Parsi communities across the world.
Beyond its cultural importance, Nowruz also carries profound spiritual and environmental meanings
The Rituals of Nowruz
The celebrations of Nowruz are marked by various customs and traditions that span several days. This is a festival rich in symbolism, with each ritual and tradition carrying profound meaning.
- Spring Cleaning (Khouneh Tekouni) Families clean and decorate their homes in preparation for the new year in the weeks leading up to Nowruz, known as Khouneh Tekouni, which literally means “shaking the house.” This tradition symbolizes the removal of past burdens and making space for fresh, positive energy. New clothes, fresh flowers, and a well-kept home reflect the idea of renewal and rebirth.
- The Haft-Seen Table
The highlight of the celebrations is the “Haft-Seen” table where seven items each starting with the Persian letter ‘S’ are arranged to represent different aspects of life, such as health, prosperity and love. These items represent various aspects of life and nature, and their presence on the table is believed to bring blessings for the year ahead. The seven traditional items include:
Sabzeh (Sprouts): Symbolizing rebirth and growth.
Samanu (Sweet Pudding): Representing wealth and fertility.
Senjed (Dried Oleaster Fruit): Signifying love and wishdom.
Seer (Garlic): Standing for health and medicine. Seeb (Apple): Representing beauty and good health.
Serkeh (vinegar): Denoting wisdom and aging gracefully.
Sumac (crushed spice): Symbolizing the sunrise and the triumph of good over evil.
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Additional items such as a mirror (for reflection), colored eggs (for fertility), candles (for enlightenment), and a bowl of goldfish (representing life and movement) may also be placed on the table.
- Chaharshanbe Suri: The Festival of Fire
On the last Wednesday before Nowruz, people celebrate Chaharshanbe Suri, or the Fire Festival. This ancient custom involves lighting a fire and jumping over it, chanting slogans. Other popular dishes served while jumping over the fire include kuku sabzi (an herb-infused omelet) and ash reshteh (a thick noodle soup believed to bring good luck). This act symbolizes the purification of the body and soul, as well as the victory of light over darkness. - Sijdah Bedar: The 13th Day of Nowruz Nowruz celebrations culminate on the 13th day of the new year, known as Sijdah Bedar. People go out for picnics in parks, by the river, or in the countryside to enjoy nature and spring flowers. This day is to ward off bad luck associated with the number 13 and to honor nature’s role in renewal and rebirth. Many people throw their vegetables into running water, symbolizing the release of past negativity.
The Significance of Nowruz in 2025
Nowruz holds immense cultural and historical significance as it marks the first day of spring and the renewal of nature. It symbolises rebirth, hope and the triumph of light over darkness. Nowruz is more than a festival, it is a philosophy of life that embodies renewal, gratitude, and hope. It encourages individuals to embrace personal growth, foster community ties, and live in harmony with nature.
The Haft-Seen table, for instance, is a microcosm of life, which features symbolic items like garlic, apples and coins, each representing different values such as health, prosperity and love. The bonfires of Chaharshanbe Suri remind us of the eternal struggle between light and darkness, while the act of spring cleaning signifies the importance of renewal and self-improvement.
Happy Nowruz 2025! 🌸✨ Here are some heartfelt wishes you can share with your family and friends to celebrate this beautiful occasion:
Wishes for Family
🌸 Happy Nowruz 2025! May this new year bring love, health, and happiness into our home. Wishing you a year full of blessings and beautiful moments!
🌞 May our family bond grow stronger with every Nowruz. Wishing you all endless joy.
💖 As we welcome the new year, I’m grateful for having such a wonderful family. May this Nowruz bring prosperity, peace, and endless happiness to all of us!
🌿 May our home be filled with laughter, our hearts with love, and our lives with success in this new year. Happy Nowruz!
Wishes for Friends
🌺 Wishing you a beautiful Nowruz filled with happiness, success, and all your heart’s desires. May this year bring new opportunities and endless joy!
✨ Nowruz Mobarak! May this fresh start be the beginning of all your dreams coming true. Have a wonderful year ahead!
🌼 As the flowers bloom and the sun shines brighter, may your life be filled with warmth, happiness, and prosperity. Happy Nowruz, my dear friend!
🌿 May our friendship continue to bloom like the spring flowers. Wishing you a joyful Nowruz!
🌟As spring blooms, may your life be filled with hope, love, and positivity. Happy Nowruz 2025!
“Wishing you a bright and joyful Nowruz! May this new year bring you endless happiness, success, and unforgettable memories. Thank you for being such wonderful friends! 🌷💫”