But Now Ruz is much more than a collection of 2,500-year-old habits and traditions. Its most important value is the human interchange that is the core component of the holiday.
Now Ruz, of course, begins in childhood and so much of the warmth and good feeling of the holiday go back to experiences remembered from childhood and tehn built on over the decades.
The Iran Times asked Iranians across the United States, in Iran and even in countries as far away as China to share their memories of Now Ruz.
Parham Mirshahpanah, who currently works for Bayer in China, said: “My favorite part of Now Ruz has always been the excitement of getting gold fish! When should you get them so they don’t die too soon; how many should you get; which bowl should you put them in; where should you place the bowl to avoid having the pishee (cat) get to them; and the best part of all, setting them free at the conclusion of a fun and festive annual tradition.”
Jahanpour Memarian, the general director of insurance of the Agriculture Bank in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province, shared with the Iran Times a Now Ruz tradition of his own: “Iranians believe in the very early moments of New Year’s magic in an idiosyncratic way. They say if someone is not at home, his new year would be inauspicious. One year, I had a backlog of work to do at the bank and I had to stay at the office. I, myself, wanted to go home but my colleagues kept coming to me asking for leaves of absence, which I had to reject. What could I do? At this time, my management studies turned out to be a life saver—a good manager is someone who turns a threat into an opportunity—so I said we could invite all of our families and celebrate Now Ruz together at the bank. That year was the beginning of a series of Now Ruz celebrations at the bank.”
Laleh Zahedi Latini, the California-based co-founder and co-creative director of SOBU.COM, told the Iran Times: “I was only eight years old when I left Iran, so my memories are hazy and dream-like. When I think back to Now Ruz, the first image I have is of jumping over the bonfires in the middle of the street. Jumping and feeling a mix of fear and excitement. I will never forget the image of all those little fires in the middle of the night. The other image in my mind is of family. A steady stream of family coming and going, talking, eating, laughing together and kids running through the house. Togetherness and warmth. I miss that.”
Jahanadad Memarian, a Persian language instructor at UC Santa Barbara in California said he misses getting Now Ruz gifts as a child in Iran. “It is common for adults and elders to give gifts to children during Now Ruz. My greatest memories of Now Ruz consist of receiving gifts from older friends and family members. But I am sad to say that I am an adult now and no longer receive gifts during Now Ruz. Now, it is expected for me to give gifts to my younger cousins and friends.”
Mehrdad Sarlak, founder of CupidRadar based in Los Angeles, California, said: “What I adore and cherish about Now Ruz, and why unequivocally it is the New Year of all New Years, is that unlike many annual New Year celebrations—which are set by people—Now Ruz is uniquely determined by the universe and corresponding governing laws of physics. We didn’t pick Now Ruz. But it certainly picked us. Saale no bar hamegi khojaste baad!”
But Iranians aren’t the only ones who partake in the New Year celebrations. Emily Cavanagh, a singer and social worker in New York, told the Iran Times, “Even though I was born Irish, I am an honorary Persian. This means a lot to me, particularly this time of year when the memories of jumping over candles, eating yummy food, and being part of the Persian New Year celebration fill me with joy. I am blessed by many years of friendship with a most beautiful Persian girl named Grace. Her name in Farsi is “Aresou” which means “wish;” mine is “Farzeen,” which means “I WISH I were Persian,” Cavanagh joked. “My friend and her family have welcomed me into their family, and I have learned of the culture through them. They are some of the greatest examples of love I have known.”
