Happy International Nowruz Day to all those who celebrate!
Nowruz, meaning the ‘new day’, has its spelling varying from country to country, marking the first day of spring (usually occurs on 21 March) and celebrated as the beginning of the new year by more than 300 million people across the globe, with over 3,000-year-long tradition of celebrations in the Balkans, the Black Sea Basin, the Caucasus, Central Asia, the Middle East and other regions.
Nowruz is a rite dating back to at least the 6th century BCE, marking the new year and ushering in spring. Variously known as Novruz, Nowrouz, Nooruz, Navruz, Nauroz or Nevruz, this historic rite is observed on 21 March in many countries along the Silk Roads, including Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, India, Iran, Iraq, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
UNESCO
As such, The UN perceives Nowruz as “a significant role in strengthening the ties among peoples based on mutual respect and the ideals of peace and good neighbourliness”, a bridge between “the civilizations of the East and West, which influenced those civilizations through the interchange of human values”, to achieve “life in harmony with nature, awareness of the inseparable link between constructive labour and natural cycles of renewal and a solicitous and respectful attitude towards natural sources of life. (UN – International Nowruz Day)
The UNESCO also marks the significance of Nowrus through their platform Celebrating the New Year on the Silk Roads.
Calling QUB international staff and students –
Tell us what cultural festivals and days you celebrate by filling in the form below and we will do our best to help with circulation and celebration at Queen’s.