Nowruz

Iranians prepare for Persian new year under shadow of war

2026-03-19 23:10:00 UTC

Amid conflict and fear, Nowruz has taken on a different meaning for Iranians this year | CNN

2026-03-19 23:10:00 UTC

War hits Tehran’s grand bazaar as prices surge and shops shut

2026-03-19 23:10:00 UTC

Nowruz (Persian: نوروز, .mw-parser-output .IPA-label-small{font-size:85%}.mw-parser-output .references .IPA-label-small,.mw-parser-output .infobox .IPA-label-small,.mw-parser-output .navbox .IPA-label-small{font-size:100%}Iranian Persian: [noːˈɾuːz], lit. 'New Day') is the Iranian or Persian New Year's day. Historically, it has been observed by Iranian peoples, but is now celebrated by many ethnicities worldwide. It is a festival based on the Northern Hemisphere spring equinox, which marks the first day of a new year on the Iranian calendars and the currently used Solar Hijri calendar; it usually coincides with a date between 19 March and 22 March on the Gregorian calendar.

The roots of Nowruz lie in Zoroastrianism, and it has been celebrated by many peoples across West Asia, Central Asia, the Caucasus and the Black Sea Basin, the Balkans, and South Asia for over 3,000 years. In the modern era, while it is observed as a secular holiday by most celebrants, Nowruz remains a holy day for Zoroastrians, Baháʼís, and Ismaʿili Shia Muslims.