ArashNet.com - iran

Home		About Arash		Iran		Web related		Links
Information about country of Iran (Persia)

Iranian calender definition

Iranian calender originated 550 BC.
After the conversion of the vast majority of Iranians to Islam, the ancient Iranian calendar was adjusted to begin with the year of the Prophet Muhammad's immigration to Medina (the hijrah), equivalent to AD 622 in the Gregorian calendar.

Bahâr
Spring
1 - Farvardîn
(Achievement force - The Guardian Angels)
(31 days)
March 21 - April 20
Ghűch (Aries)

2 - Ordîbehesht
(Best of purity - Highest Asha - Presides over fire)
(31 days)
April 21 - May 21
Gâv (Taurus)

3 - Khordâd
(Good health - Wholeness)
(31 days)
May 22 - June 21
Do Peykar (Gemini)

Tâbestân
Summer
4 - Tîr
(Rain star - The Star Sirius)
(31 days)
June 22 - July 22
Kharchang (Cancer)

5 - Mordâd
(Imortality - Life)
(31 days)
July 23 - August 22
Shîr (Leo)

6 - Shahrîvar
(Good deed - Desirable Dominion)
(31 days)
August 23 - September 22
Khűshe (Virgo)

Pâîz
Autumn
7 - Mehr
(Friendship, kindness)
(30 days)
September 23 - October 22
Tarâzű (Libra)

8 - Âbân
(Waters)
(30 days)
October 23 - November 21
Kaj Dom (Scorpio)

9 - Âzar
(Fire)
(30 days)
November 22 - December 21
Kamân (Sagittarius)

Zemestân
Winter
10 - Dey
(Creator/God)
(30 days)
December 22 - January 20
Boz (Capricorn)

11 - Bahman
(Good thought - Good Mind or Purpose)
(30 days)
January 21 - February 19
Zarf (Aquarius)

12 - Esfand
(Holy Devotion)
(29 days) if leap year (30 days)
February 20 - March 20
Mâhî (Pisces)

Iranian New Year and Spring Equinox

Norűz (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.

Norűz (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 (vernal equinox).

It has been celebrated by all the major cultures of ancient Mesopotamia. Sumerians, 3000 B.C., Babylonians 2000 B.C., the ancient kingdom of Elamite in Southern Persia 2000 B.C., and Akaddians all have been celebrating Norűz in one form or another. What we have today as Norűz (Norooz) with its’ uniquely Iranian characteristics has been celebrated for at least 3000 years.