[FREE IRAN Project] In The Spirit Of Cyrus The Great

[Happy New Years!]

Only New Year's related information should be posted to this thread!


Norooz, in word, means "new day". It is the new day that starts the year, traditionally the exact astronomical beginning of the Spring. For thousands of years, Norooz was rotating. The Zoroastrian religious calendar, used before Islam, consisted of 12 months with 30 days each, making 360 days, plus a “stolen five” (Panjeh-ye Mostareghe) days that was held at the end of each year, adding up to 365 days.

Early astronomers were not aware of the leap years and did not add the one day more every four years, thus caused the rotation of Norooz. The other fact was that during the anarchic times and moments of unrest in the country such as time of Alexander, or end of Ashkanids, people forgot to add the five stolen days, and this resulted in another problem in the calendar. During the Sasanid era Tansar, the head priest (Mubedhan-i Mubedh) of Ardeshir I unsuccessfully tried to organise the calendar.

There are accounts of Norooz in Autumn, winter or even Summer! The first person who re-organised the calendar successfully was Omar Khayyam, the mathematician and astronomer of 5th century H (11-12th AD). He drew a chart for the year and put the start of the year at the moment of Aries’ entrance to the house of Sun. He made a calendar of 6 months with 31 days, and 6 months with 30 days making a total 365 days, and suggested the addition of 1 day every four years and also addition of a months every 13,000 years. This is the most complete calendar ever made.

Khayyam called it “the Jalali Calendar” because of “Jalal” al-Din Malekshah Saljuqi, his patron king. Currently, his calendar is called the “Khorshidi”(Sun based) calendar, as oppose to the Arabic “Ghamari” (moon based) calendar. Although Khayyam was Iranian and he created this calendar based on the pre-Islamic calendar of Zoroastrians, it was not used widely in Iran until the 1925 AD(1304 HS) when Reza Shah Pahlavi ordered it to be used instead of “Ghamari” calendar. In the process of finding names for the months, there are some interesting mistakes happened which are note-worthy.

The first month is originally called “Fravartishn”, but when they wanted to choose it as the name, they found it too hard, so they made it shorter by calling it Farvardin. Second month was originally Ardibehesht, but it became Ordibehesht. Fifth month, Mordad, was suppose to be Amordad, but the Mordad form sounded better.

Seventh months Mehr was “Mithr” at first, but ‘th’ sound is hard to pronounce in Farsi, so they chose the acceptable replacement of ‘h’. Azar, the ninth months was “Atar” at first, but it sounds too Zoroastrian, so ‘z’ was found to be more acceptable. And finally, the last month was “Esfandarmadh(z)”, but oh god, who is going to say that! So “Esfand” was thought of as more suitable, although it is the name of a spice! Now, in ahistorical sense, Norooz is the oldest Iranian holiday.
Together with Mehregan (entrance of Libra to the house of Sun), it was one of the “two” new years of ancient Aryans. Mehregan was the first day of the “cold” year (Autumn and Winter), and Norooz was the start of the “warm” year (Spring and Summer). It is said that Norooz is chosen as the official holiday by King Yama (Jamsheed), the ancient Iranian king who is the hero of the mythological story of expanding the earth. According to the story, when Yama expanded the earth three times, he ordered the day of the last expantion to be called Norooz, a New Day for the Iranian race.

The truth most likely lies somewhere in between this story and the fact that Norooz is the beginning of the Spring. It could be that Norooz was already a holiday for the Aryans, but when it coincided with an important event in the reign of Jamsheed, it was chosen to be the "special" holiday. What ever it might have been, Norooz became the most important holiday in Iran after the Islam. Comparing to Norooz, Mehregan and Sadeh (another important Iranian holiday) lost their importance. The selection of Norooz as the only standing "Iranian" holiday after Islam might also be a direct result of the limitations imposed on Iranians by Moselm rulers.


For Iranians after Islam, Norooz was a sign of holding on to the national values. It helped them to remember their heritage in spite of cultural attacks of Arabs, Mongols, Turks, and Westerners. Norooz continues its role of national pride in this world of cultural trades and influences. For the Iranians out side home, Norooz is an element of nostalgia and a reminder of home, at least once a year. Although Norooz has some outside influences like Qoran and the Arabic prayer during the beginning of the year, but it still holds the distinctively Iranian values of health, green-ness, life, light, and happiness. Noroozetan Pirooz!



Persian New Year 2004 Norooz Friday, March 19 -- Saturday, March 20

The March Spring Equinox in New York on Saturday, March 20 at 1:49 a.m. EST --
the beginning of Spring in the Northern Hemisphere and Fall in the Southern Hemisphere.
FRIDAY, MARCH 19 -- Mexico City, California, Hawaii
SATURDAY, MARCH 20 -- Tehran, New York, London, Europe, Manila, Hong Kong
The vernal equinox, is the time when the Sun crosses the equator making night and day of equal length in all parts of the Earth.

Vernal Equinox times for this year's Noruz:

Tehran, Iran: Saturday March 20, 2004. 10:18:37 (AM)
London: Saturday March 20, 2004. 06:48:37 (AM )
Europe: Saturday March 20, 2004. 07:48:37 (AM)
New York: Saturday March 20, 2004. 01:48:37 (AM)
California: Friday March 19, 2004. 22:48:37 (PM)
Tokyo: Saturday March 20, 2004. 15:48:37 (PM)
Australian Capital Territory: Saturday March 20, 2004. 17:48:37 (PM)


Above, a Now Ruz (Norooz) public performance at Tehran's Rudaki Hall during Shah's Era.
Every house prepares a display known a "Haft-sin" (the Seven S's), consisting of seven objects the name of which in Persian begins with the letter S, completed by a mirror and a bowl of goldfish.
It is considered unlucky to stay at home on the thirteenth day of the Now Ruz festival, and a massive national picnic takes place, the favoured spot; being a grassy riverside.
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Norooz & other countries - By Neda Network

Norooz is the new year holiday in Iran, Azerbaijan, Central Asia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, parts of India and among the Kurds. The word itself literally means "new day" in Persian, and the festival marks the beginning of the solar year and new year on the Iranian calendar, as well as among several other nationalities.
This year, Norooz falls on Monday March 20, with the following day, the vernal
equinox, being the first day of the new year. Norooz traditionally celebrates the awakening of nature, and even the triumph of good over the oppressive darkness of winter. It is a time to celebrate life at the time when life begins or is renewed for much of that which is on the earth. The new year is marked at the instant the sun leaves the astrological sign of Pisces and enters that of Aries.
This renewal of nature is the essence of this millennia-old tradition. Originally held as a spring festival, it is believed to have been first acknowledged and named "Norooz" by the mythical Persian emperor Jamshid. Others credit the Achaemenid dynasty of the 12th century B.C. for institutionalizing the Norooz festival.
The spirit and significance of the holiday has often made Norooz a target for foreign invaders and anti-nationalist forces throughout the history of Iran. Alexander the Great and the Arab conquerors a thousand years later tried to eliminate the holiday. The Soviet Union banned it in Central Asia and Azerbaijan, as it was considered a nationalist or Islamic holiday.
The celebration was banned in Kurdish sections of Turkey, though, for the last few years, Turkish officials have allowed some festivities.


Prince Cyrus Reza Pahlavi's message regarding the New Iranian Year Video ( Norooz 1383 -2004 )

[sudi]

Happy new year to all my ham-mihans. May this new year bring you happiness and success. And may this spring be a beginning to the end of Iran's ruling despots and tyrants.

Har rooz-e-tan Norooz, Norooz-e-tan pirooz!

[Liberty]

A very Happy New-Rouz to everyone in Iran and around the Globe,

May your Hearts be filled with Hope for Freedom and your Activism for Liberty find a more decisive momentum towards final victory.

God Bless Iran & Liberty.

[asher]

Happy Norooz to all Iranian people, in Iran and around the world.

May this holiday mark the beginning of many good things, and may you see freedom in your homeland soon.

[Spenta]

Tahvil or Vernal Equinox times for this year's Noruz:

Tehran, Iran: Saturday March 20, 2004. 10:18:37 (AM)

London: Saturday March 20, 2004. 06:48:37 (AM )

Europe:Saturday March 20, 2004. 07:48:37 (AM)

New York: Saturday March 20, 2004. 01:48:37 (AM)

California: Friday March 19, 2004. 22:48:37 (PM)

Tokyo: Saturday March 20, 2004. 15:48:37 (PM)

Australian Capital Territory: Saturday March 20, 2004. 17:48:37 (PM)

[Spenta]

Noruz cards Here:
http://www.farsinet.com/ecards/

[Spenta]

Great Noruz Tahvil Flash animation:
http://www.irananimation.com/Nourooz82/happy_norooz.swf

[Amo Norooz for Bush]

I send warm greetings to Iranian Americans and the Iranian people observing Nowruz, the traditional Persian New Year.


This year's observance occurs at a time when our Nation is united in its determination to make the world safe from terrorism. The community of more than one million Iranian Americans has fully participated in this noble endeavor by condemning the terrorist acts, participating in rescue efforts at ground zero, and offering help and support to the victims, who included individuals of Persian heritage.

From arts and education to industry and science, Iranian Americans have made significant and enduring contributions to the cultural and civic life of our Nation. Your observance of the traditional Persian New Year honors an ancient and storied history and marks a time of renewal. As the season changes, may your observance of Nowruz serve as a special time for you to reflect on your rich heritage and to enjoy the company of family and friends.

[cyrus]

Happy Norooz to all Iranians, Azaris, Kurds, Afghans, Tajiks, Parsi Indian and millions of other that they are celebrating as International Earth Day in past 35 years (http://www.earthsite.org/)

FYI:
At this time of year is hard not to mention the great Khayyam contributions to our Persian calender:

Khayyam (May 1050 - Dec 1122) was a Persian poet as well as a mathematician and astronomer. The father of Algebra was an outstanding mathematician and astronomer. His work on algebra was known throughout Europe in the Middle Ages, and he also contributed to calendar reform. Khayyam measured the length of the year as 365.24219858156 days. Two comments on this result. Firstly it shows an incredible confidence to attempt to give the result to this degree of accuracy. We know now that the length of the years is changing in the sixth decimal place over a person's lifetime. Secondly it is outstandingly accurate. For comparison the length of the year at the end of the 19th century was 365.242196 days, while today it is 365.242190 days. Khayyam poems are targeting all forms of fanaticism and today we should consider him as father of battle against fanaticism .

*************** Our Mother Earth *******************

The perspective we get on Earth, our planet appears to be big and sturdy with an endless ocean of air. From space, astronauts often get the impression that the Earth is small with a thin, fragile layer of atmosphere. For a space traveler, the distinguishing Earth features are the blue waters, brown and green land masses and white clouds set against a black background. We should love and respect our small beautiful mother earth planet.
Many dream of traveling in space and viewing the wonders of the universe. In reality all of us are space travelers. Our spaceship is the planet Earth, traveling at the speed of 108,000 kilometers (67,000 miles) an hour.

NASA Sun-Earth Connection


****************** International Earth Day *********************
"The earth will continue to regenerate its life sources only as long as we and all the peoples of the world do our part to conserve its natural resources. It is a responsibility which every human being shares. Through voluntary action, each of us can join in building a productive land in harmony with nature."
President Gerald Ford
Proclaiming March 21st as Earth Day

"The vernal equinox calls on all mankind to recognize and respect Earth’s beautiful systems of balance, between the presence of animals on land, the fish in the sea, birds in the air, mankind, water, air, and land. Most importantly there must always be awareness of the actions by people that can disturb this precious balance."
Margaret Mead

http://cyberschoolbus.un.org/earthday/peacebell_2004.asp
Earth Day 2004

The Japanese Peace Bell at UN Headquarters in New York will ring at exactly 1:49 AM (EST) on Saturday, 20 March to mark the precise moment that spring begins in the Northern Hemisphere and autumn in the Southern Hemisphere. At this global moment, night and day are equal all over the world, the sun sets at the South Pole and rises at the North Pole and anyone standing on the equator at noon will not cast a shadow. Earth Day is a day of equilibrium when differences are forgotten and nature's renewal is celebrated by all.
For the last 34 years, this annual event marks the beginning of Earth Day which has been traditionally observed with the ringing of bells. Earth Day was created to remind us of our shared responsibility to protect the planet.
This year, John McConnell, the 88-year old founder of Earth Day, will present a message to the children of the world at the site of the UN Peace Bell. McConnell first introduced the idea of a global holiday called Earth Day at a UNESCO Conference on the Environment in 1969, the same year that he designed the Earth Flag. UN Secretary-General U Thant supported John McConnell’s global initiative to celebrate this annual spring equinox event. In his statement on 21 March 1971, Secretary-General U Thant said: “May there only be peaceful and cheerful Earth Days to come for our beautiful Spaceship Earth as it continues to spin and circle in frigid space with its warm and fragile cargo of animate life.”
Mr. McConnell co-founded the Earth Society Foundation, a non-profit organization, along with the late world renowned anthropologist, Margaret Mead. For more information on John McConnell and Earth Trustees, visit http://www.earthsite.org.
At the exact moment of the spring equinox, Mr. McConnell will ring the UN Peace Bell at UN Headquarters three times. This will be followed by a “Minute for Peace,” which can be observed as silent prayer, reflection, or meditation. At the same moment that the UN Peace Bell is rung in New York, bells will ring in many other places in the world, including Vienna (Austria), Vilnius (Lithuania), Beijing (China), Paris (France) and Kyoto (Japan).
PARTICIPATE
Here are a few suggestions of how you could participate:
• Do something in your own community that helps improve the environment where you live.
• Get involved in YouthCan, a youth run organization that uses technology to inspire, connect and educate people worldwide about environmental issues.
• Join Pumped Up for Peace, a new project sponsored by the UN Cyberschoolbus that is helping a community in the Amazon rainforest whose water supply has become contaminated.
• Play the recording of the UN Peace Bell at the exact moment of the vernal equinox where you live. See vernal equinox schedule for selected cities around the world.
• Join the Peace Bell initiative organized by European Schoolnet for Spring Day 2004.
• Read what students are planning to do on this special day.

[Ms. Andi]

Happy Norooz. May the blessings of Spring bring freedom to all Iranians.
_________________
"I have sworn upon the altar of God, eternal hostility against every
form of tyranny over the mind of man." --Thomas Jefferson*

[cyrus]

US Officials extend their wishes to People of Iran

SMCCDI (Information Service)
Mar 20, 2004

http://www.daneshjoo.org/smccdinews/article/publish/article_4156.shtml

Several high rank and prominent U.S. officials and lawmakers have extended their wishes to the People of Iran at the occasion of Nowruz, the Iranian New Year.

These greetings have been widely welcomed among the majority of Iranians who have found in the U.S. a strong ally in their struggle against dictatorship and especially in these dark times that they're deprived from a true democratic and legitimate system of governance. The US officials calls' become more significant and impact more deeply the Iranians' hearts as they see in the clerics the main enemies of their ancestral traditions and have witnessed how the mullahs tried in vain to undermine Nowruz and its meanings by qualifying them as "pagan tradition".

The popular President George W. Bush had issued, on February 10th, an early statement at the occasion of Nowruz (Iranian New Year). "The Messiah of Freedom" as he is being qualified by many Iranians has stated: "I send greetings to Iranian Americans observing Nowruz, the traditional Persian New Year. Nowruz is a special time to celebrate with family and friends, honor cultural heritage, and enjoy holiday traditions. It is also a time to celebrate the arrival of spring in anticipation of the opportunities of the new year. During this joyous season, I encourage people of all faiths to pray for peace and mutual understanding throughout the world. Laura joins me in sending our best wishes for a joyous New Year filled with health and happiness".

Mr. Bush who has supported openly and at several occasion the Iranian freedom lovers has renewed his calls twice in the last 48 hours for freedom in Iran and in the "Greater Middle East".

In addition to Mr. Bush, several US officials and senators, such as, Arnold Schwarzenegger Governor of California, Rod Blagojevich Governor of Illinois, the principled Senator John Cornyn of Texas and the admired Senator Sam Brownback of Kansas have all issued statements for this cherished tradition of Iranians wishing them the best and recognizing the major constructive impact of Iranian-Americans on the American society.

In his statement, issued today, Mr. Cornyn is stating: "I extend warm congratulations to Iranians in Texas and across the United States as they celebrate Norooz, their New Year. During this time of celebration and coming together, it is especially important to be thankful for the blessings of liberty and democracy. As Iranians celebrate new life this spring, I'd like to emphasize my belief in core Texas values - encouraging personal responsibility, compassion for others, and supporting family values. Strong families are the foundation for a prosperous and civilized society, and a compassionate government recognizes their importance in fostering successful communities, happier homes, and healthier lives. I strongly believe that every individual is worthy of respect. I support providing opportunity for all and removing government limitations on freedom so that every citizen has the chance to realize the American dream. Iranian-Americans, like all immigrants, make a tremendous contribution to our society, and I wish them all the best for a peaceful, prosperous and happy new year."

For his part, Mr. Brownback who took the lead in defending the Iranians, since the bloody crackdown on the 1999 Student Uprising, states: "I'm delighted to be able to send my best wishes for a happy NoRooz to the Iranian people. I have heard numerous reports from the widespread celebrations that have been going on inside Iran. Yet again, the Iranian people are showing their courage by celebrating in defiance of the regime's order that the people turn their back on their own rich culture. NoRooz is the time of beginnings. It is said that how one spends this day will set the tone for the coming year. Iranians by thousands are spending this day pursuing their freedom, cherishing their ancient civilization and standing tall against tyranny. Indeed, it is a new day in Iran - and I am confident it will be the year of your liberation. I have been very moved by the hundreds of phone calls and faxes of support for my resolution supporting the Iranian people - S. Res. 82. I have never before seen such a supportive reaction to one of my efforts. I am humbled by your support, and I promise you - I will not give up on you. May you and your families have a blessed new year. Happy NoRooz ! {Iran-A Ahh-Zahhd}."

It's to note that Mr. Brownback (R-KS) uses often the Persian phrase {Iran-A Ahh-Zahhd} while addressing the Iranians. This phrase means "Free Iran". Along with Mr. Cornyn (R-TX), he introduced, last year, the famous "Iran Democracy Act"which seeks to strengthen support for Iranians who want to create a democratic, secular government which respects human rights, abandons state-sponsored terrorism, and rejects the possession and use of weapons of mass destruction.

[cyrus]

Prince Cyrus Reza Pahlavi's message regarding the New Iranian Year Video ( Norooz 1383 -2004 )

[Khorshid]

Happy Noruz to all my compatriots and friends of Iran. May we double our efforts in fighting the enemies of Iran and bring an end to the diaspora.

Long Live Iran.
Long Live the King.

.

[flamingPEN]

Khorshid, nice avatar! Happy New Year to you too..

[Khorshid]