This tradition of welcoming the spring, the new year, and new beginnings is called Norouz (“New-Day”) in Iran. It is more akin to Christmas than New Year for many Iranians, seeing as a significant holiday that is deeply symbolic. Among other elements, it is the symbolism of the victory of spring over winter, of light over darkness, of life over death.
The Norouz ceremony is a beautiful blending of Islamic and pre-Islamic elements. The Islamic elements include the display of the Qur’an, and the recitation of prayers asking God to transform hearts into the loveliest of forms. The pre-Islamic elements often tap into a Pre-Islamic Zoroastrian Persian tradition which celebrates light over darkness.
Most end up celebrating the New Year with a ritual setting of the Haft-sin table, which includes seven items that in Persian start with the letter “S”, each symbolizing something: Apples (Sib), Garlic (Sir), Vinegar (Serkeh), Somac (Somaq), dried fruit (senjed ), a sweet pudding (Samanu), and Greens (Sabzeh). Families gather with loved ones, exchange small presents, and pray for a better year ahead for all of humanity.
I was asked to give a talk for a gathering to celebrate Norouz, and instead of merely talking about the common topics such as the Haft-Sin table, I decided to talk about what was on many people’s minds and in many people’s hearts: the drumbeats of war-mongering against Iran.
In this talk, I argue that the poetic tradition of Iran, so dear to Iranians as their great contribution to humanity, contains powerfully illuminating lessons for how to respond to constant war-mongering.
I hope you enjoy the talk.
May everything in this world that has been overcome by the winter of oppression become transformed into the beautiful springtime of justice.
May the flowers of human dignity and the beauty of liberated existence bloom everywhere.
May the tensions between Iran and other countries be transformed into a sweet harmony of peaceful co-existence.
May every day be Norouz!