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President Bush Extends Nowruz Greetings for Persian New Year

 
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PostPosted: Mon Mar 20, 2006 10:12 pm    Post subject: President Bush Extends Nowruz Greetings for Persian New Year Reply with quote

20 March 2006

President Bush Extends Nowruz Greetings for Persian New Year
Many Americans observe ancient Persian festival


Source:
http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=washfile-english&y=2006&m=March&x=20060320113416ndyblehs0.3174707&t=livefeeds/wf-latest.html

President Bush sent holiday greetings to those celebrating Nowruz, the Persian New Year festival, March 20. Nowruz is an ancient Persian festival celebrated by people throughout southwest Asia and by immigrants around the world.

Bush praised the diverse cultural contributions of immigrants to American society and sent warm regards to Americans observing the Nowruz celebration.

For additional information on the holiday, see “Iranian Americans Observe Persian New Year Traditions.”

Following is the text of Bush’s statement:

(begin text)

THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
March 20, 2006

March 2006

I send greetings to those celebrating Nowruz.

Nowruz is an ancient celebration marking the arrival of the New Year. For millions of people around the world who trace their heritage to Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Turkey, Pakistan, India, and Central Asia, Nowruz is a celebration of life and an opportunity to express joy and happiness through visiting family and friends, exchanging gifts, and enjoying the beauty of nature.

Our Nation is blessed by the traditions and contributions of Americans of many different backgrounds. Our diversity has made us stronger and better, and Laura and I send warm regards to all Americans celebrating Nowruz.

Best wishes for peace and prosperity in the New Year.

GEORGE W. BUSH

(end text)

(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

__________________________________________________________

17 March 2006

Iranian Americans Observe Persian New Year Traditions
Nowruz festival marks beginning of spring


http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=washfile-english&y=2006&m=March&x=20060317175903ndyblehs0.9292871&t=livefeeds/wf-latest.html

Washington – Some 2 million Iranian Americans – and other immigrants from neighboring countries that were once part of the Persian Empire – are celebrating Nowruz, the Persian New Year, on March 20 with rituals that go back thousands of years.

The rituals find their symbolic roots in Zoroastrianism and its dualistic struggle between the forces of good and evil, but with the advent of Islam 14 centuries ago, many of the traditions were modified.

A few days before the New Year, Persians observe a Zoroastrian festival known as Chahar Shanbeh Suri. The evening’s rituals include a symbolic purification by fire in which people jump over bonfires to rid themselves of illness and misfortune.

The New Year celebration then begins with the spring equinox, and the Nowruz festivities continue for 13 days.

Iranian community and student groups throughout the Untied States observe the traditional Persian holidays. Some groups refrain from participating in bonfire jumping because of the fire hazard, but all of them celebrate Nowruz with Persian music, dancing and a traditional dinner.

The traditional dinner at Nowruz features an herbed rice and fish dish called sabzi palau ba mahi accompanied by a hearty noodle soup. As always the meal is rounded out with sweet Persian pastries.

Families then greet the New Year in a purified state with a bath and a new set of clothes. The first few minutes of the New Year are spent around a traditional table setting known as the Haft Seen, or “Seven S” with seven items that begin with the letter “S.”

Haft Seen goes back to the pre-Islamic traditions of Zoroastrianism with each item representing one of the seven creations and the seven holy immortals protecting them.

Among the seven “S” items on the table is sabzeh, or green shoots, which are seven wheat or lentil seedlings symbolizing resurrection and the new life to come. Other “S” items may include samanu or sohan, sweets representing joy; sib, an apple representing health and beauty; senjed, lotus fruit symbolizing love; sir, garlic to ward off evil; sekhe, coins for prosperity; sonbal, a hyacinth flower; sumac, a Persian spice; or serkeh, vinegar.

The table setting also should include painted eggs to represent fertility, a goldfish bowl to represent the world’s oceans, and candles with reflecting mirrors to represent the eternal fire – the ultimate purifying symbol of Zoroastrianism. Some families also include a book of poetry by the Persian masters Hafez or Firdousi and a Quran, often used for recitations.

On the 13th day of the New Year, known as Sizdeh-be-dar, Iranians traditionally leave the cities for picnics in the countryside. The wheat or lentil sprouts are tossed into running water to symbolize the throwing away of everyday cares.

Nowruz ceremonies have become more diverse through the years, particularly as the traditions have spread through Afghan, Tajik, Uzbek, Azerbaijani, Kurdish and Parsee cultures, but all of those who observe the celebration today carry forward a timeless expression of ancient Persian culture.


(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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