Voice of America
March 17 2005
Iranian-Americans Celebrate Persian New Year
By Mike O’ Sullivan
Los Angeles
18 March 2005
Sunday, Iranians worldwide will celebrate Norouz, the Persian New
Year. VOA’s Mike O’Sullivan reports on activities in Los Angeles,
the U.S. city with the heaviest concentration of Iranian Americans.
The annual celebration begins the last Wednesday of the old year, so
Tuesday night in Los Angeles and other U.S. cities, families gathered
to commemorate Chahar Shanbeh Souri, an ancient Persian cultural
festival. More than 2000 adults and children took part in
festivities outside the Los Angeles offices of the Iranian American
Muslim Association of North America. Saman Namazikhah points to
small piles of wood stacked in an outdoor courtyard, which were about
to be set on fire.
“What we do is an event where we have bonfires, small bonfires, and
we jump over them,” he explaines. “Jumping over them in a sense is
purifying our soul and cleansing our body for the new year to come.”
The ritual dates from pre-Islamic Persia, when followers of the
Zoroastrian religion celebrated the purifying properties of fire.
The Persian New Year is held at the spring equinox, which arrives in
Los Angeles this year in the early hours of Sunday morning. The day
is usually spent at home or in the houses of relatives, says Mr.
Namazikhah.
“Iranians celebrate it being with their family, and they have a table
spread which signifies spring because the Iranian New Year is the
first day of spring,” he notes.
The family table is set with special foods and traditional items.
Seven dishes all begin with the Persian letter “sinn” or “s,” and
include apples, garlic and vinegar. Other symbolic items may include
coins, rice, colored eggs or goldfish.
Ramtin, 10, an Iranian Muslim boy who attended the festival with his
Christian friend Allen, says Norouz is special for him, just as
Christmas is special for Allen, whose parents come from Iran but are
of Armenian background.
“It’s a time when we Persians all celebrate what we have,” he adds.
“It’s kind of like, as he [Allen] celebrates Christmas, and it’s a
fun time when we all gather with our families and relatives.
Norouz is the central holiday in the Persian calendar, says
Iranian-born Delnaz Behzadpour, who moved to the United States in the
1970s.
“It’s one of the most important days of our lives. I have three kids
and they were all born here and they all celebrating the New Year
with us,” she says.
Saman Namazikhah says New Year festivities in Los Angeles are
multi-religious.
“We have Zoroastrians, we have Christians, Armenians, we have
Baha’is, we have Jewish people, and of course, we have Muslims,” adds
Mr. Namazikhah.
Festivities will continue for 13 days into the new year. On the 13th
day, people will gather in a park for a picnic and traditional
rituals. In Southern California, thousands will attend an event at a
park in the city of Irvine, south of Los Angeles.
Iranian immigrant Delnaz Behzadpour says that in the United States,
the celebration of Norouz and associated festivals keeps her Persian
traditions alive for her three children. She says it also provides a
way of introducing Iranian culture to her neighbors in this country
of immigrants.