Folklore: Nowruz -Persian new year starting today

Subject: Folklore: Nowruz -Persian new year starting today
From: Felipa
Date: 20 Mar 21 - 03:54 PM

you can still register today for performance at 6 pm Pacific summer time (US)
https://farhang.org/nowruz/12th-annual-celebration-of-nowruz
"Farhang Foundation is proud to present our 12th Annual Celebration of Nowruz. This year’s celebrations will be conducted virtually online. We've invited artists from around the world to join us for a virtual celebration, with live performances from the United States, Europe and Iran."

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https://www.mamalisa.com/blog/category/seasonal/nowruz-persian-new-year/>https://www.mamalisa.com/blog/category/seasonal/nowruz-persian-new-year/

Nowruz is the Persian New Year, which takes place at the beginning of Spring.

Haji Firuz is a fictional character in Persian folklore who plays the tambourine and sings and dances in the streets at the beginning of Nowruz. His face is covered in soot and he wears bright red clothes and a hat. He demands gifts and some people give him money for singing and dancing.

Haji Firuz is the companion of Amu Nowruz (Uncle Nowruz).

Amu_NowruzAmu Nowruz is another fictional character from Persian folklore. He has silver hair, a long beard, wears a hat and carries a walking stick. He gives out gifts and is sometimes compared to Santa Claus.

Fatima Baji wrote, "You can see Haji Firuz in Tehran’s streets. But usually we see him on TV shows during Nowruz."

You can learn three Nowruz songs on Mama Lisa’s World at the following links:

Beshkan, Beshkan (Snap, Snap), It’s Haji Firuj and My Lord. [links are on the Mama Mia page ]

Fatima wrote, "These songs are really popular in Iran and are part of Iranian folklore."
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The Persian (Iranian) New Year is celebrated on the first day of Spring. It’s called Nowruz. There are many New Year traditions, including throwing grass into a river or lake. Our correspondent Fatima wrote from Iran about some New Year’s traditions:

    In the last month of the Iranian year people shake up the house (i.e. they clean the whole house like Spring cleaning) and buy new cloths and things for the new year. The main thing they do in the first two weeks of the new year is to visit relatives, family and friends.

    On the last day of Nowruz, people try to spend the day out of the house and in parks and nature. Because according to old traditions, it’s said that the 13th day of the first month of the new year is unlucky, and that we should go out of the house, and that those who stay at home will not have a lucky year! Actually, I don’t believe that the 13th day is infelicitous, but maybe it’s just a tradition.         

    One interesting thing about Nowruz is that before the new year people plant wheat or other grains in a plate or dish, for the first day of the new year. The grass-plot should be grown enough to put it in the new year table setting which we call 7-Seen. On the 13th day, when people spend the day outside, they should bring the grass-plot and throw it in the water – in a river, lake, or something like that. And according to one tradition, single girls and men can tie the grass before throwing it to get married that year! Or if someone is in love with someone else they too can tie the grass in the hope of marrying their beloved. This tradition is more common with single women. That’s funny I never tied any grass till now, but this year was the first year that I planted grass, maybe I’ll marry this year! LOL. Have fun Fatima

Thanks for writing Fatima and sharing your traditions with us!

-Mama Lisa

Subject: RE: Folklore: Nowruz -Persian new year starting today
From: Felipa
Date: 20 Mar 21 - 04:03 PM

corrected link https://www.mamalisa.com/blog/category/seasonal/nowruz-persian-new-year

Subject: RE: Folklore: Nowruz -Persian new year starting today
From: Felipa
Date: 20 Mar 21 - 09:45 PM

a nice holiday (in most respects, anyway) https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/nowruz-2021-explainer-trnd/index.html

https://www.indianspice.co.za/2021/03/20/nowruz-2021-the-parsee-new-year-is-celebrated-today/

Subject: RE: Folklore: Nowruz -Persian new year starting today
From: Felipa
Date: 20 Mar 21 - 10:19 PM

some music for Nowruz

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbjuOW7M3t0 with an assortment of instruments accompanying the singers

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzRMGUYK7TA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v15VvSv738U Hooniak band - and this year from the band https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2AMZFDA64Y

I didn't have to stay up late to watch the celebrations; the Farhang Foundation video will be available to watch later on the Farhang Foundation website.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Nowruz -Persian new year starting today
From: leeneia
Date: 22 Mar 21 - 12:37 PM

Thank you for the information and the links, Felipa. I enjoyed the music.

Subject: RE: Folklore: Nowruz -Persian new year starting today
From: Felipa
Date: 04 Apr 21 - 06:24 PM

The Farhang organisation's 2021 concert for Nowruz is now available on youtube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfOtGYSp6ro

Subject: RE: Folklore: Nowruz -Persian new year starting today
From: Felipa
Date: 04 Apr 21 - 06:29 PM

I should have said that the concert is in conjunction with the Pacific Symphony and is only available to view on the present link through 2 May 2021.

It is not the same concert I listened to last month.