Happy Nourouz (Persian New Year)
Today, the Sun crosses the celestial equator heading north at 0548 UT. Known as the equinox, the geocentric astronomical event marks the first day of spring in the northern hemisphere and autumn in the south.
Equinox means equal night and with the Sun on the celestial equator, Earth dwellers will experience nearly 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of darkness.
Nowrooz/Nourouz (No Ruz or Norooz), the vernal equinox (21 March), is the Iranian new year festival. The word itself literally means “new day” in Persian (Farsi) language and the festival marks the beginning of the solar year as well as the new year on the Iranian and several other national calendars.
The Nowrooz festival celebrates the awakening of the natural life. This awakening symbolizes the triumph of good, winning against the evil forces of darkness that are represented by the Winter. Nowrooz is the point when the oppressive presence of the cold Winter finally begins to retrieve with the commencement of the lively and hopeful Spring. This symbolic and poetic change corresponds to the mathematical instance of the sun leaving the zodiac of Pisces and entering the zodiacal sign of Aries, also known as the Spring Equinox. As described above, Nowrooz represents much of what Iranian/Persian character, history, politics and religion are all about. For centuries, Persians have applied the Nowrooz spirit to every dark challenge that has come their way. This spirit has made Nowrooz far more than just a New year celebration!
Happy Nowrooz from SolSie & Friends!
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