Nowruz, Persian new year

Nowruz, the Persian New Year, marks the arrival of spring and has been celebrated for more than 3,000 years across Iran, Azerbaijan, and many parts of Central Asia. It is a holiday of renewal, joy, and togetherness.One of the highlights of Nowruz is the “Haft-Seen” table, decorated with seven symbolic items that represent health, love, prosperity, and life. Families also enjoy special holiday sweets: bakhlava, a layered pastry with nuts and honey that symbolizes the stars; shakarbura, a crescent-shaped pastry filled with nuts and sugar that symbolizes the Moon; and gogal, a spiced bread that symbolizes the sun.People jump over the bonfire as a ritual while praying for health and peace for the next seven years.Nowruz traditions bring people together to welcome the new year with peace, happiness, and hope.