2019 / 1398 ، بهار 126 ی شماره « آورد ره » ی فصلنامه 1 Page RAHAVARD Quarterly Persian & English Journal of Iranian Studies Issue 126, Spring 1398 / 2019 GOAL: Is to empowere our young generation with the richness of our Persian heritage, keep them informed of the history of the extraordinary people to whom they belong as they gain mighty wisdom from a western system that embraces them in the aftermath of the revolution and infuse them with the knowledge and ideals that inspire them. FINANCIAL: RAHAVARD is entirely supported by, Supscription dues, advertisers and RAHAVARD: contributions from its readers, and followers A Los Angeles-based Quarterly Bilingual who largely constitute the elite of the Iranians Journalof Iranian Studies, was founded by living in diaspora. HASSAN SHAHBAZ in 1981 in Los Angeles. DIGITAL RAHAVARD (ebook): In 2012 with the Rahavard, publishes scholarly articles in the encouragement & constant reminder of HOMA field of: Persian (Iranian) Studies (Literature, SARSHAR and Dr. FIROUZ NADERI RAHAVARD History, Politics, Culture, Society and beyond). English and Persian digital (ebook) was Its readers are well educated, well informed, launched as an online version of the publication business owners, scholars, intellectuals, at: www.rahavard.com. Since then it's appeal professors, politicians & philanthropists. has increased drastically, specifically by younger It's founder HASSAN SHAHBAZ passed away in generation and Iranians living in Iran. May 2006. Forming an Advisory Committee, ENGLISH RAHAVARD: In 2016 with the his widow Sholeh Shams Shahbaz has encouragements of H.E. ARDESHIR ZAHEDI, Dr. continued publishing. FIROUZ NADERI & the assistance of Dr. JANET Today, Rahavard has grown both in volume, AFARY, Cal State Santa Barbara (by providing subscription, and influence. student Interns as the Assistant Editors of After her husband’s death, she published his English Rahavard), a dream of HASSAN SHAHBAZ, last book, titled, SPORADIC CONVERSATIONS and became reality. 2nd print of his memoirs titled, Pride & Sorrow. As a growing roster of writers and contributors, OBJECTIVE : Is to bring RAHAVARD to to whom we continuously reach out, are the attention and interest of the younger fast making the ENGLISH RAHAVARD relevant, generation of Iranian global readers who are appealing and ultimately, influential, we plan educated, involved and civically mobile. We to use all our resources and the breadth of have since created a social media platform experiences to advance the appeal of Rahavard for RAHAVARD online at Facebook, to Iranian community in diaspora or living in Instegram,What's-App and Telegram. Iran, as well as the cause of Iranians everywhere. 2 Page 2019 / 1398 ، بهار 126 ی شماره « آورد ره » ی فصلنامه 3 Page RAHAVARD Quarterly Persian & English Journal of Iranian Studies Issue 126, Spring 1398 / 2019 4 Page 2019 / 1398 ، بهار 126 ی شماره « آورد ره » ی فصلنامه 5 Page RAHAVARD Quarterly Persian & English Journal of Iranian Studies Issue 126, Spring 1398 / 2019 6 Page 2019 / 1398 ، بهار 126 ی شماره « آورد ره » ی فصلنامه 8 56 61 68 12 15 18 22 29 43 47 50 12 7 Page RAHAVARD Massoume Price is a Social Anthropologist and Hu- man Ecologist from London University, Kings and University Colleges. She specializes in ancient Mes- Quarterly Persian & English Journal of Iranian Studies Issue 126, Spring 1398 / 2019 opotamian Studies. She currently lives in Canada. Works with a number of organizations such as the “Center for Iranian Research and Analysis” (CIRA) at the University of Toronto and the Anthropolo- gy Museum in Vancouver. Has been interviewed Nowruz by CBC radio and CTV, and has been a guest on Fanny Kiefer’s popular talk show, Studio 4 on Shaw cable. Her first book Iran’s Diverse Peoples pub- is a lished by ABC CLIO in 2005 was reviewed as “a must read” by Patrick Clawson from Middle East Quarterly in spring 2007. Her other book Ancient Celebration Iran for young readers also received very good reviews from School Library Journals in USA and Australia and was featured on PBS for Rick Steve’s Iran Fundraiser Program. The book also won the Moonbeam Children’s Book Award in 2009. Her of Life website, www.cultureofiran.com is extensively used by the educators and the public. She is a recipi- ent of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for her contribution to multiculturalism in Canada. Iranian New Year Nowruz, www.cultureofiran.com Origins & Rituals www.anahitaproductions.com By: Massoume Price Nowruz means ‘New Day’ and is a celebration of the spring Equinox. It has been celebrated for almost 3000 years as a Spring and New Year Festival. It is documented from the fifth century BCE. at Persepolis, Darius and his crown prince, Xerxes are shown receiving dignitaries and ambassadors from other nations during the New Year celebrations. The Nowruz we have today is deeply rooted in the rituals and traditions of the ancient Iranian 8 Page 2019 religion, Zoroastrianism, particularly from the of sky, fire and animals. The other three / Sasanian period, 7th century CE. In their ancient were; Khordad, Esphand and Amordad— 1398 ، بهار .text, Bundahishn (Foundation of Creation), it is protectors of water, earth and all plants Ahura Mazda himself became the said that: 126 ی The Lord of Wisdom (Ahura Mazda) protector of all humans and the holy شماره created all that was good and became God. fire. The six immortals are the names of six of the months in the current Iranian « آورد The Lord of Darkness, Angra Mainyu (Ahriman) created all that was evil and calendar and are celebrated in the New ره Year ceremonial spread, known as Haft » ی became the Hostile Spirit. The two worlds فصلنامه that were created did not have a material Sin. This newly created world did not form and only existed in essence. The have a life cycle, so there were no days, two worlds existed side-by-side but were nights or seasons. Once the material separate. Next, the material world was world had been created, the Hostile Spirit created. The first creation was the sky, a saw the light and wanted it, and attacked big chunk of stone encompassing earth. the good world. He crashed in through The second was the first ocean at the the sky, plunged down into the waters and bottom. The earth a big flat dish sitting then burst up through the centre of the on the ocean was the third. Then the three earth. With the hostile spirits invading, prototypes of all life forms, the first plant, help was needed to fight back. The three the first animal (bull) and the first human, prototypes of life were sacrificed. From both male and female (Kiomarth) were the plant came the seeds of all plants. The created. The seventh creation was fire/sun. bull produced all the animals, and from To protect his creations from the Hostile the human came the first male and female Spirit, the Lord of Wisdom also created (mashi & mashiyaneh). six guardians or holy immortals. These With the triple sacrifices the cycle of life are personifications of the natural forces was started, and this was the beginning created. They are called Amesha Spenta of time. The sun moved, and there was and there is one for each creation. day, night and the seasons. This day was The first three were deities: Shahrivar, called the first Nowruz, symbolizing the Ordibehesht and Bahman—protectors beginning of the cycle of life, and the start 9 Page RAHAVARD mentions that Piruz was the angel protector of the dead, and ignited the fires at the Suri festival, still performed at the time. Quarterly Persian & English Journal of Iranian Studies Issue 126, Spring 1398 / 2019 Piruz still is present and is known as Haji Firuz, a black-faced troubadour dressed in bright red who shows up a few days before Nowruz. The black face is reminiscent of his connection with the world of the dead. Another popular figure appearing before Nowruz is Uncle Nowruz (Amou Norooz). With white hair. He represents winter and during Nowruz celebrations in ancient times was mockingly chased off by a younger man, fanning himself pretending that the warm season had arrived, signifying the fact that winter was ending and the of the battle between the good and evil. Zoroastrians introduced many feasts, festivals and spring was coming. The New Year is celebrated for 13 days after the start rituals to pay homage to the seven creations, the holy of the spring. New garments are worn to emphasize immortals and Ahura Mazda. Amongst the most newness and freshness. Families stay home and important, seven were the feasts of obligation. The wait for the start of the New Year, at the exact time last and the most elaborate of these was Nowruz, of the spring equinox. The start time for the New , celebrating the Lord of Wisdom and the holy fire Year changes every year and is called Tahvil (the at the time of the spring equinox. Over time the time of transformation), and the day is around 20th festival incorporated other aspects of the religion of March. The first few minutes are spent around such as the feast celebrating Faravashi (human’s an elaborately prepared spread with several items guardian angels). These eventually represented the and objects known as , meaning soul of the dead returning to visit the living during Haft Sin seven objects starting with the Persian letter sin or ‘s’. the last few nights of the old year. Verses from the holy books are read by the religious Pre-Islamic celebrations started ten days prior to people, while others recite poetry, just before the the New Year. A major spring-cleaning was carried start of the New Year. out to welcome the spirits with feasts, wine, dance Once the New Year starts the young will pay respect and music.