Novruz around the world in 2025

Novruz around the world in 2025
A village girl, Palangan, Kurdistan, Iran. At the beginning of spring, Kurdish people according to their customs and culture, celebrate an annual celebration called Nowruz or kindling fire. Image by Salar Arkan
  How long until Novruz?
Novruz
  Dates of Novruz around the world
2025 Various Mar 20, Mar 21, Mar 22, Mar 23
AlbaniaSat, Mar 22National Holiday
Iran Mar 20, Mar 21, Mar 22, Mar 23
IranSun, Mar 23National Holiday (additional day)
IranSat, Mar 22National Holiday (additional day)
IranFri, Mar 21National Holiday (additional day)
IranThu, Mar 20National Holiday
IraqThu, Mar 20National Holiday
KyrgyzstanThu, Mar 20National Holiday
Tajikistan Mar 20, Mar 21, Mar 22
TajikistanSat, Mar 22National Holiday (additional day)
TajikistanFri, Mar 21National Holiday (additional day)
TajikistanThu, Mar 20National Holiday
Turkmenistan Mar 20, Mar 21
TurkmenistanFri, Mar 21National Holiday
TurkmenistanThu, Mar 20National Holiday
Uzbekistan Mar 21, Mar 22
UzbekistanSat, Mar 22National Holiday
UzbekistanFri, Mar 21National Holiday
2024 Various Mar 20, Mar 21, Mar 22, Mar 23
AfghanistanWed, Mar 20Not A Public Holiday
AlbaniaFri, Mar 22National Holiday
Iran Mar 20, Mar 21, Mar 22, Mar 23
IranSat, Mar 23National Holiday (additional day)
IranFri, Mar 22National Holiday (additional day)
IranThu, Mar 21National Holiday (additional day)
IranWed, Mar 20National Holiday
Iraq Mar 20, Mar 21, Mar 22
KurdistanFri, Mar 22Regional Holiday
KurdistanThu, Mar 21Regional Holiday
IraqWed, Mar 20National Holiday
Kyrgyzstan Mar 20, Mar 21, Mar 22
KyrgyzstanFri, Mar 22National Holiday (additional day)
KyrgyzstanThu, Mar 21National Holiday (additional day)
KyrgyzstanWed, Mar 20National Holiday
Tajikistan Mar 20, Mar 21, Mar 22
TajikistanFri, Mar 22National Holiday (additional day)
TajikistanThu, Mar 21National Holiday (additional day)
TajikistanWed, Mar 20National Holiday
Turkmenistan Mar 20, Mar 21
TurkmenistanThu, Mar 21National Holiday
TurkmenistanWed, Mar 20National Holiday
Uzbekistan Mar 21, Mar 22
UzbekistanFri, Mar 22National Holiday
UzbekistanThu, Mar 21National Holiday
2023 Various Mar 20, Mar 21, Mar 22, Mar 23
AfghanistanMon, Mar 20Not A Public Holiday
AlbaniaWed, Mar 22National Holiday
IndiaTue, Mar 21Regional Holiday
Iran Mar 20, Mar 21, Mar 22, Mar 23
IranThu, Mar 23National Holiday (additional day)
IranWed, Mar 22National Holiday (additional day)
IranTue, Mar 21National Holiday (additional day)
IranMon, Mar 20National Holiday
IraqMon, Mar 20National Holiday
KyrgyzstanMon, Mar 20National Holiday
Tajikistan Mar 20, Mar 21, Mar 22
TajikistanWed, Mar 22National Holiday (additional day)
TajikistanTue, Mar 21National Holiday (additional day)
TajikistanMon, Mar 20National Holiday
Turkmenistan Mar 20, Mar 21
TurkmenistanTue, Mar 21National Holiday
TurkmenistanMon, Mar 20National Holiday
Uzbekistan Mar 20, Mar 21
UzbekistanTue, Mar 21National Holiday
UzbekistanMon, Mar 20National Holiday
2022 Various Mar 21, Mar 22, Mar 23, Mar 24
AfghanistanMon, Mar 21Not A Public Holiday
AlbaniaTue, Mar 22National Holiday
IndiaMon, Mar 21Regional Holiday
Iran Mar 21, Mar 22, Mar 23, Mar 24
IranThu, Mar 24National Holiday (additional day)
IranWed, Mar 23National Holiday (additional day)
IranTue, Mar 22National Holiday (additional day)
IranMon, Mar 21National Holiday
IraqMon, Mar 21National Holiday
KyrgyzstanMon, Mar 21National Holiday
Tajikistan Mar 21, Mar 22, Mar 23, Mar 24
TajikistanThu, Mar 24National Holiday (additional day)
TajikistanWed, Mar 23National Holiday (additional day)
TajikistanTue, Mar 22National Holiday (additional day)
TajikistanMon, Mar 21National Holiday
Turkmenistan Mar 21, Mar 22
TurkmenistanTue, Mar 22National Holiday (additional day)
TurkmenistanMon, Mar 21National Holiday
Uzbekistan Mar 21, Mar 22, Mar 23
UzbekistanWed, Mar 23National Holiday (additional day)
UzbekistanTue, Mar 22National Holiday (additional day)
UzbekistanMon, Mar 21National Holiday
2021 Various Mar 21, Mar 22, Mar 23, Mar 24
Afghanistan Mar 21, Mar 22
AfghanistanMon, Mar 22National Holiday (additional day)
AfghanistanSun, Mar 21National Holiday
AlbaniaMon, Mar 22National Holiday
IndiaSun, Mar 21Regional Holiday
Iran Mar 21, Mar 22, Mar 23, Mar 24
IranWed, Mar 24National Holiday (additional day)
IranTue, Mar 23National Holiday (additional day)
IranMon, Mar 22National Holiday (additional day)
IranSun, Mar 21National Holiday
IraqSun, Mar 21National Holiday
Kyrgyzstan Mar 21, Mar 22
KyrgyzstanMon, Mar 22National Holiday (in lieu)
KyrgyzstanSun, Mar 21National Holiday
Tajikistan Mar 21, Mar 22, Mar 23
TajikistanTue, Mar 23National Holiday (additional day)
TajikistanMon, Mar 22National Holiday (additional day)
TajikistanSun, Mar 21National Holiday
Turkmenistan Mar 21, Mar 22, Mar 23
TurkmenistanTue, Mar 23National Holiday (additional day)
TurkmenistanMon, Mar 22National Holiday (additional day)
TurkmenistanSun, Mar 21National Holiday
Uzbekistan Mar 21, Mar 22
UzbekistanMon, Mar 22National Holiday
UzbekistanSun, Mar 21National Holiday
  Summary

Novruz celebrates the Persian New Year, and the beginning of Spring

  Which countries observe Novruz in 2025?
National Holiday Regional Holiday Not a public holiday Govt Holiday
  AlbaniaMar 22
  IranMar 20
  IraqMar 20
  TurkmenistanMar 20, Mar 21
  UzbekistanMar 21, Mar 22

Novruz celebrates the Persian New Year, and the beginning of Spring. Novruz means 'New Day'.

In some countries it may have a different spelling and be observed on slightly different dates. The details of these names and dates are shown on the table to the right.

Day by day guide to Novruz

History of Nowruz

This is one of humanity's oldest holidays, and although it may be often called Persian New Year, it predates the Persian Empire and can be traced back 5,000 years to the Sumerian and the Babylonian civilisations. Novruz begins on either 20 March or 21 March, on the spring equinox, when the days and nights are equal lengths, with days then becoming longer signifying the arrival of warmer weather.

The build-up to Novruz begins a month before the festival. Each of the four Tuesdays falling before Novruz is dedicated to a different element. First is Water Tuesday, where water renews nature. Next is Fire Tuesday which honours fire as a method rebirth. Then it is Earth Tuesday marking the revival of the earth. Finally, it is Wind Tuesday when the wind opens the buds and marks the arrival of Spring.

Fire worship forms an integral part of the celebrations with fires being lit on the four Tuesdays in the run-up to Novruz. On the last Tuesday, everyone has to jump over the fire as an act of purification.

Like a lot of spring festivals, this idea of purification and starting again is key. Indeed, before Novruz, activities based on renewal like spring cleaning, planting trees, make new clothes and painting eggs are popular.

On the day before Novruz, the graves of relatives are visited and tended, then the whole family will gather around the table to enjoy traditional dishes. The table will be decorated with a khoncha, a large silver or copper tray with Samani (wheat) placed in the centre and candles and painted eggs representing the number of family members around it. The feast will consist of at least seven dishes.

While not a public holiday in India, there are significant Parsi communities in Mumbai and Gujarat who follow Zoroastrianism and celebrate Nowruz. Parsis visit to the Fire Temple to offer special prayers. They also prepare festive delicacies and friends and families get together to celebrate the day.

On 30 September, 2009, Novruz was included into UNESCO’s List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. On 23 February 2010, the United Nations declared March 21st the International Day of Novruz.


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