On June 28, 2017, Governor Brown signed Assembly Bill 88, which proclaims the first day of spring, as Nowruz (or Norooz) Day. Based on the Persian calendar, and depending on the year, this day may be on March 19th, 20thor 21st.
Assembly member Adrin Nazarian from Sherman Oaks, CA who prepared and proposed the bill declared : “California stands as a beacon of hope and acceptance for all Americans who work hard for a better life for their families. Now, on the first day of spring, California will join the Persian community in wishing all of us a peaceful and prosperous Nowruz.”
About Norooz
Norooz or Nowruz (Persian: نوروز ; literally “new day”) is the name of the Iranian New Year, also known as the Persian New Year, which is celebrated worldwide by the Iranians, along with some other ethno-linguistic groups, as the beginning of the New Year.
Traditional HaftSeen table at Norooz
It has been celebrated for over 3,000 years in Western Asia, Central Asia, the Caucasus, the Black Sea Basin and the Balkans. Iran, Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, Armenia, China, Georgia,Tajikstan, Uzbekistan, Irak and Syria are among countries where all or part of the population celebrates Norooz.
Goldfish, Norooz, Haftseen
Norooz is the day of the vernal equinox, and marks the beginning of spring in the Northern Hemisphere. It usually occurs on March 21 or the previous or following day, depending on the year. The moment the sun crosses the celestial equator and equalizes night and day is calculated exactly every year, at a very precise instant with the precision of seconds. This moment is the same in all the locations around the globe. (unlike for the Gregorian new year). At this instant families who have been united as much as possible at the same place around the haftseen table, observe the rituals.
Although having Iranian and religious Zoroastrian origins, Norooz has been celebrated by people from diverse ethno-linguistic communities for thousands of years. It is a secular holiday for most celebrants that is enjoyed by people of several different faiths, but remains a holy day for Zoroastrians.
Norooz flags city of Irvine California
Norooz day now will give all Californians—regardless of their ethnic, cultural, religious, or economic background—an opportunity to come together, celebrate the renaissance and the renew and move forward with hope for a prosperous new year. The day’s focus on reconciliation and neighborliness contributes to cultural inclusiveness and cooperation among people from different backgrounds and acknowledges the richness of the Persian culture and the Persian community in California.
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