Nowruz/Navroz/Norouz

The word “Nowruz” (spelling varies by region: Now Ruz, Naw-Ruz, Now Roz, Novruz, Navruz, Nooruz,

Nevruz, or Nauryz) translates to “new day”. It marks the first day of spring and is celebrated as the

beginning of the new year by more than 300 million people all around the world. Nowruz has been

celebrated for over 3,000 years in the Balkans, the Black Sea Basin, the Caucasus, Central Asia, the Middle

East and other regions. Originally celebrated by the Zoroastrians, it is also a holy day in the Bahá’í, Sufi, and Ismaili faiths.