Celebration of Now Ruz in the Faculty Club

On Wednesday 29 March, we are organising a special evening together with the Persian and Iranian Studies chair of Utrecht University. We would like to invite you to the celebration of the Persian New Year (Now Ruz). During this originally Zoroastrian festival, millions of people in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan and in the Kurdish regions, celebrate the beginning of the new year.

Now Ruz is the moment of the equinox, when the day lasts as long as the night. This year, it falls on 20 March 2023. For Iranian peoples, it is the most important festival of the year. For many other peoples too, the dawn of spring is seen as the natural beginning of the new year (now ruz literally means "new day"). Think of the Easter celebration (stemming from the Germanic Festival of Spring). 

During the Now Ruz celebration in the Faculty Club, you will be drawn into this age-old tradition. Enjoy beautiful music, poetry, stories and traditions and/or join our Persian meal afterwards. 

Programme

• 17.00: Drinks with Persian background music
• 17.40: Welcome from Faculty Club
• 17.45: Prof Asghar Seyed-Gohrab on the meaning of Now Ruz
• 18.00: Poetry readings on spring in different languages
• approx 19.00: Musical performance by Iranian-Dutch composer and percussionist Farid Sheek
• 19.15/19.30 - 21.30: Persian meal for 15.00 euro

Cost: drinks can be paid at the bar on the evening itself. The tasty snacks during the evening will be provided by the Faculty Club. We ask a contribution of 15.00 euros for the Persian meal. You can register for the meal via the registration form.  

Persian New Year - Now Ruz

Now Ruz is the time of the equinox, when the day is as long as the night. This year it falls on 20 March 2023. For Iranian peoples, this is the most important festival of the year. The dawn of spring is seen as a new beginning (now ruz literally means "new day"). For many other peoples too, spring is seen as the natural beginning of the new year. Think of the Easter celebration (stemming from the Germanic Festival of Spring).

Now Ruz is surrounded by symbols and ancient traditions. Typical of Now Ruz is the Haft Sin, an arrangement of (at least) seven objects starting with an s-sound in Persian, which can be found in every home on nicely arranged tables. Each object has its own symbolic value. For instance, samanu (a kind of pudding) symbolises prosperity and sir ("garlic") symbolises health.

The Now Ruz celebration is lavishly celebrated with music, poetry and dance and delicious food. The celebration lasts for thirteen days. On the 13th, people go out to picnic.

Everyone is welcome!

More information: www.uu.nl/organisatie/faculty-club.nl en www.beyondsharia.nl