Iranian New Year Celebration
19/03/2008
Iranian New Year Celebration
Students welcome the new year on 18 March
Richmond students experienced the Iranian New Year (Nowruz) with a party on Chahar Shanbeh Suri (Red Wednesday Eve). Iran's most popular holiday, which has been celebrated for at least 3,000 years, was celebrated by a large gathering of students enjoying food, music, and fireworks.
On the last Tuesday night of the old year, Persians typically gather around bonfires to celebrate Chahar Shanbeh Suri, a celebratory ritual of the quest for enlightenment, health, and happiness in the year ahead. Celebrants jump over fires as they chant the Persian phrase, "Give me your beautiful red color/Take back my sickly pallor."
Persians will continue to celebrate Nowruz through 1 April, the thirteenth day of spring.
To learn more about the Persian New Year, check out http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/03/0317_050317_nowruz.html
Link to this page: http://www.richmond.ac.uk/n/475.aspx
