Sale No Mobarak !!

Iranian New Year 1386 began on Wednesday Farvardin 1st,03:37:26 AM Tehran Time (March 21, 2007; 1:07:26 AM)

In harmony with the rebirth of nature, the Iranian New Year Celebration called NOROOZ always begins on the first day of spring. Norooz ceremonies are symbolic representations of two primordial concepts - the End and the Rebirth (Good and Evil). Few weeks before the New Year, we clean and rearrange houses. We start making Samanoo, kind of cream dessert. We bake pastries and germinate seeds as sign of renewal. We also get reading buying new clothes and lots of presents for our relatives. As catholic would do it on Christmas time.

Troubadours, referred to as Haji Firuz, disguise with makeup and wear brightly coloured outfits of satin. This Haji Firuz, singing and dancing parade as a carnival through the streets with tambourines, kettle drums, and trumpets to spread good cheer and the news of the coming new year.

The origins of Norooz are not clearly known. However, they can be several thousand years predating the first Persian Dynasty. The ancient Iranians had a festival called Farvardgan which lasted ten days, and took place at the end of the solar year. It appears that this was a festival of sorrow and mourning, signifying the end of life while the festival of Norooz, at the beginning of spring signified rebirth, and was a time of great joy and celebration.

The other ancient symbolic representation of Norooz is based on the idea of the triumph of good over evil. According to the Shah-nameh (The Book of Kings), the national Iranian epic by Ferdusi, Norooz came into being during the reign of the mythical King Jamshid; when he defeated the evil demons (divs) seizing their treasures, becoming master of everything but the heavens and bringing prosperity to his people. To reach the heavens, Jamshid ordered a throne to be built with the jewels he had captured. He then sat on the throne and commanded the demons to lift him up into the sky. When the sun's rays hit the throne, the sky was illuminated with a multitude of colours. The people were amazed at the King's power and they showered him with even more jewels and treasures. This day of great celebration was named Norooz, and was recognised as the first day of the year.