Persian New Year
Photo of a typical Nowruz table.
Each of the items on the table has
special cultural significance
Last night I had the wonderful privilege of attending the Nowruz festival at the University of Wyoming. "Nowruz," which means the "New Day" is a celebration of Spring and renewal and usually occurs on or around the equinox.
I really didn't know all that much about Persian culture outside of the mentions of the Persian empire in history. I found out that what we once knew as Persia is largely in the country of Iran, and that Iran is the 17th largest country of the world, about the size of the western seaboard states of the US. Unlike Easter, Nowruz is strictly secular and is celebrated by people of many faiths. I also learned that Persian people are comprised of many different ethnicities, languages, cultures and religions.
It was a wonderful evening with traditional music, contemporary music, dancing and Persian food. Everyone was wonderful and welcoming.
I really didn't know all that much about Persian culture outside of the mentions of the Persian empire in history. I found out that what we once knew as Persia is largely in the country of Iran, and that Iran is the 17th largest country of the world, about the size of the western seaboard states of the US. Unlike Easter, Nowruz is strictly secular and is celebrated by people of many faiths. I also learned that Persian people are comprised of many different ethnicities, languages, cultures and religions.
It was a wonderful evening with traditional music, contemporary music, dancing and Persian food. Everyone was wonderful and welcoming.