Norooz Rituals in every region of Iran

Norooz is observed with much ceremony and respect in every region in the country. Besides rites which are common in the country each region observes its specific rites some of which are mentioned below: Like its verdant nature and lush foliage,

Gilan

Norooz is observed with many rites in Gilan Province. Some of these rites have been forgotten with the lapse of time but some continue to be observed in certain parts of that province. Cleaning the house, holding Charshanbesuri (kindling fire), playing with spoons, Noroozkhani (singing Norooz songs), cooking sweetmeats, drying fruits, painting eggs, sewing native dresses, visiting during the change of the year by consulting the Quran and tens other rites are observed in Norooz in Gilan. Whitening the walls by lime, washing garments and carpets by the river, are customs which continue to be observed in some villages in Gilan. The cooking of sweetmeats and candies and drying fruits were rites which prevailed in the entire province in the past but in recent years such customs have been forgotten in many towns.

Mazandaran

Along with the soft steps of nature which brings the sweet scent of spring from villages into towns the people in Mazandaran province dust and clean their homes. In this province also the cleaning of the house, Charshanbesuri, Khatoon Charshanbeh, Norooz Soltan and Now-Eyed are celebrated by people with the rebirth of nature. Normally cleaning of the house in villages in Mazandaran is simultaneous with purging of hearts from hatred and enmity, and besides washing the house furniture in villages have which continued to preserve their traditional culture where people live in thatched (mud) houses, after dusting and cleaning they decorate the house with special soil. This soil is called Serish in the local dialect. It is nearly white and is prepared two weeks before the start of the new year by the women. Different districts in Mazandaran Province observe special rites for Charshanbehsuri by reciting poems. The last Wednesday of the year the vegetable market is full of customers who buy spinach, leek and marigold to cook a special stew called Tourshe Tareh. Of other merry customs at the beginning of spring one may refer to Noroozkhani in which several people sing verses such as "King Norooz has come, the ancient holiday has come," or "Laugh and revel, the season of nightingale has come," the people praise the beauty of spring, budding of plants and the arrival of goodness and blessing.

Yazd

The citizens in Yazd Province also observe special rites to welcome Norooz. During these days Yazdi sweetmeats are forwarded as gift to other parts of the country. Before Norooz the confectioneries and candy makers lead a bustling trade as customers order their sweetmeats including ghotab, cotton candy, baqlava (a kind of pastry usually cut in lozenges), etc. one month before the new year. Of other rites observed in Yazd Province in Norooz is Panjehchini. Five days before the beginning of the New Year all the shops in the province decorate their shops with their ware and illuminated them with lamps. The Zoroastrians inYazd, too, observe Norooz holidays which had descended from ancient times. They celebrate Norooz in fire temples by reciting verses from Avesta and praying for the victory of their countrymen in the New Year.

Ardebil

In Ardebil Province also from very old times at the close of winter the people have welcomed historical Norooz holiday. Although with the mechanization of life some of these rites in that province have lost their original color, still once can observe signs of devotion to Norooz festival at Ardebil. According to elders in the past Norooz was celebrated with the appearance of Takams or Takamchis at various districts in the city. With the appearance of Takamchis the people prepared themselves to receive Norooz. Takam was a wooden puppy with four legs which was made to move like animal. An old Ardebili citizen says Takamchis started their show during the last ten days of Esfand (March 10-20) and collected gifts and this represented the arrival of the New Year. In this province the majority of family members stay awake round the Haft-Sin table until late at night to welcome Norooz. The Haft-Sin table was ornamented by the Quran, candles and other delicacies. Before the change of the year, the people took ablution and when old year changed into the New Year, they preserved silence and listened to recitation of prayer. On the first day of Norooz the people in Ardebil commemorated the departure of those relatives who had died in the preceding year in mosques and the citizens visited the bereaved families to express their condolence.

Of other rites which have awakened a new interest into Norooz among the Iranians in recent years one open might refer to the visit of war zones during the holidays by interested groups. During these days the department of culture of the Joint Chief of Staff of Armed Forces, the Basij, the Law Enforcement Forces, the government and the private cultural departments arrange group tours to the war zones. Visiting the war zones and performing cultural activities during Norooz holidays has given further weight to Norooz as a national/religious festival. Because of its variety of customs and the fact that our ancestors had the foresight to choose the season of blossoming of flowers as the beginning of the year.