Story of a Trailing Spouse: Our new year day in Tehran...

Friday, January 1, 2010

Our new year day in Tehran...

Salaam,

Yes, its new year day today...falling on one of the most blessed and auspicious of days.

New Year is one such occasion that is celebrated all over the world with great enthusiasm. But when we talk about New Year, one should remember that different countries celebrate the day on different dates. And New Year celebrations vary from country to country and from culture to culture.

For the Iranians, their new year is known as Nowruuz or the Persian New Year. It is celebrated on every twenty first day of March, marking the beginning of the first day of Spring. Hence Nowruuz is the central holiday in the Persian calendar, held in high esteem as one of the most important days of their lives.

After having gone through five lunar new years in this country, I could simply say that at least in Tehran the occasion is not as enthusiatically anticipated, let alone celebrated in such a way as in other parts of the world. The day simply come and go, and there is no big and sparkling fireworks to be seen in the sky either (The Persian version of a new year eve is known here as Chahar Shanbeh Souri, which is the last Wednesday of the old year, when families gather and jump over a bonfire, a ancient ritual believed to purify and cleanse the soul and body for the coming new year).

So, as in previous years, for us this year's new year eve and day were merely like any other days. Outside it was chilling cold and raining since last night. Called it cheerless, sombre, gloomy, or dreary...just couldn't describe exactly how it was...when only the three of us, and barfi around, to welcome the new year...

Nonetheless, happy new year 2010 to all and everyone. Indeed we should always be grateful to the Almighty for everythings in life.

Wassalam.