For a long time, it was believed that the earliest written records of the Nowruz festival dated back to the Achaemenid and Sassanian eras. However, recent discoveries have shown that the celebration of Nowruz among the Iranians dates back to even earlier times.
Years ago, in the ruins of the ancient city of Nisa, located in what is now Tajikistan (northwest of Ashgabat), archaeologists uncovered wooden tablets and leather scrolls, which are thought to be part of the archives of the Parthian Empire. These newly discovered documents revealed evidence of the Nowruz celebration, and researchers found that Nowruz was celebrated with great splendor during those times. While historical sources confirm the celebration of Nowruz in the Achaemenid period, the Nisa documents provided significant insights into how the festival was observed in ancient Iran.
The documents also revealed that the names of the months of the year were essentially the same as the ones we use today, though with the pronunciations of that era. The seven days of the week had the following names: Mehr, Mah, Bahram, Tir, Borjis, Anahiid, and Keywan.
The Aryans originally divided the year into two six-month segments: the first began with the arrival of spring, and the second began in the month of Mehr with the celebration of Mehrgan. Later, the year was divided into twelve months and four seasons. This made the Iranians the first to establish precise astronomical calculations and to determine an accurate time for the beginning of the year at Nowruz.
The earliest historical references to Nowruz tell us that our ancestors celebrated the festival under two distinct names: “Nowruz Khordak” and “Nowruz Vijegan.” Nowruz Khordak lasted until the 21st of Farvardin and was a celebration for everyone. On the other hand, Nowruz Vijegan was a festival that extended until the 16th of Farvardin and was reserved for the country’s elite, princes, and courtiers, marked by royal and courtly ceremonies.
The first six days of Nowruz Vijegan followed these customs:
On the first day, the king would welcome everyone and extend Nowruz greetings.
On the second day, the attendants of the fire temples and the farmers would come to visit him.
On the third day, the priests and soldiers would offer their Nowruz wishes.
On the fourth day, it was designated for the royal family and military leaders.
On the fifth day, the king’s children and close relatives would visit him.
On the sixth day, the king’s advisors would meet with him.
When the new year arrived, if it was night, the transition was marked with fire, while during the day, the arrival of the new year was announced by the sound of drums and horns.
Lighting a fire during the Nowruz days was a vital tradition, celebrated with grandeur every year. The ancient Iranians understood that fire could dispel the cold and inertia of winter, bringing vitality and encouraging people to shake off the winter lethargy. Additionally, fire had a sacred and blessed significance for the people.
The ancient and historical traces of the Iranian Nowruz festival are so numerous that an entire book could be written about them. Nevertheless, it is certain that this celebration was never forgotten throughout history. Even in the hardest times, Iranians celebrated Nowruz, considering it a symbol of victory.
