Happy Now Ruz!




Tonight, at 12 seconds past 09:30 PM (PTZ), is the Iranian Tahvil Saal (Change of the Year), and Now Ruz (New Year), also written as Naurūz; Nō Rūz; Nōgrūz, or NoRooz. It coincides with the Spring Equinox, beginning of the Spring season. This is year 1395 Hejri-Shamsi: combined of Hejra (Arabic word for migration of Prophet Mohammad from Mecca to Medina), and Shamsi, the traditional Iranian Solar Calendar.

Now Ruz is rooted in Zoroastrianism, the pre-Islamic Iranian religion, believing in one universal, transcendent, supreme god, Ahura Mazda, or the "Wise Lord". At the moment of Tahvil Saal, the families wear their best clothes, gather around the Sofreh (a food serving table or spread), decorated with Haft Seen (seven symbolic food items starting with "S"), daffodil, hyacinth, colored eggs, candles and a mirror.

Now Ruz is a time to forget and forgive the bad deeds and sad days of the year gone, and to wish for a year full of health and happiness ahead. I would like to take this opportunity to wish you, and your families and friends, a joyful Tahvil Saal, Now Ruz, followed by many years full of personal well-being and professional success.

Here is a report from Tehran about decorating eggs in the public parks in anticipation of a great year ahead: http://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2016/03/17/456350/Iranians-prepare-celebrate-Nowrooz-Persian-New-Year


Norooz pirooz to you as well. I was born to Zoroastrian parents and am very impressed with your knowledge. Of interest may be that Haft Seen was originally Haft Sheen or seven items starting with "sh" (sharbat, shirini, sharab, etc). I still do both so, as you can imagine, my Norooz table is significant!

I hope this is not TMI for the rest of you on this email! I wish you all a very happy and healthy new year (year of the horse!)

Fariba Soroosh,
Attorney at law

Thank you for your informative and cordial message. Ideally my schedule will permit me to attend the next Iranian Lawyers function. As a Catholic, we celebrated Passion / Palm Sunday yesterday. It marks the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem where he received a hero's welcome only to soon thereafter face condemnation and ultimately crucifixion. It signifies also the beginning of Holy Week, which culminates next Sunday with the celebration of Easter, when Christ rose from the dead. Terri and I wish you and yours a joyful Tahvil Saal and Now Ruz. And may the future hold wonderful things for you and may God bless you!
All the best!

Stanley Dale, Esq. Los Angeles, CA


I am only just getting this message now. What interesting information, some on the page, some between the lines. My best wishes in return, to you and your family, and to the whole listserv and their families. It looks as if we may have a year of turmoil and conflict (so unusual in Family Law). But they hopes for health and happiness and well-being are best realized with our efforts to bring them about. Cordially,

Thomas M. Hall, CFLS
Brentwood Village, CA 90049


Sounds like a great festive tradition for everyone of the culture that gives common ground to all religions. What a wonderful tradition. We could learn many lessons from this.

Stephen A. Gershman, Esq. Sherman Oaks, CA, 91403


There is a pronounced but quiet beauty in sharing information about how people celebrate the special days of their land - their holidays - when they reside in this country. This was precisely that kind of exchange such and it warmed my heart and brought a smile. Happy Special Day and a most joyous celebration to all! A little mayhem sounds quite fun! Enjoy the spirit of creating peace on earth for all.

Brenda Russo, Esq.
Suisun City, CA 94585


Well, not my parents, we have in-laws....huge parties, lots of food, fun, laughter and mayhem......and still have goldfish from years past. Happy New Year.

Laurel B. Brauer, CFLS
Irvine, CA 92614


Happy New Year to you, Abbas. You are always so good at helping those of us less familiar become more informed. Here are questions for you so I become more, as you say, "culturally competent:" (… or is that ": ? I didn't look it up but I think the rules for colons are 'different.')

I am gathering that this annual celebration has both a religious reference and a traditional reference, just as Easter and Passover are both religious and traditional celebrations. Is there a similar holiday and holiday greeting for this day in parts of the Muslim world other than Iran? And if so, is this a Muslim tradition or a Middle East tradition, just as Thanksgiving Day in USA may have religious connotations but is also part of our (and several nations') secular cultural landscape(s)?

Thanks, Abbas!
Sincerely -

Christine D. Gille, CFLS
Pasadena, CA 91101


Thank you Gille: Now Ruz is a secular, non-religious Iranian tradition celebrated by the Iranians of any denomination, i.e. Zoroastrians, Muslims, Jews, Christians or otherwise. It is also recognized in the parts of the world influenced by the pre-Islamic Iranian culture, i.e. the Balkans, the Black Sea Basin, the Caucasus, Central Asia, and Western Asia.

In Muslim-Arab countries, the New Year begins on the anniversary of Hijra, but is not celebrated. According to the Arabic-Islamic Hijri Calendar, the New Years begins on the first day of Mohharam (the first of its 12 Lunar months, 28 days each). This year is 1437 Hijri (Lunar), compared to the Iranian 1395 Hijri (Solar). Thanks for the interest. Happy New Year again.

Abbas Hadjian, CFLS
Sherman Oaks, CA, 91403


Happy Norouz to you my dear friend. You should be proud of what you have accomplished.

Steve S. Zand, CFLS
Encino, California


Abbas: Thank you, and a joyful Tahvil Saal, Now Ruz, to you as well. The holiday sounds a little like Passover and a little like New Year. Interesting how all celebrations in all faiths celebrate the same things. We are all part of the same human family!!!

Dawn Gray, Esq.
Grass Valley, CA 95945





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