Norouz (Persian: نوروز‎) is the traditional Iranian new year holiday. It is the most cherished of all Iranian festivities. Norouz marks the first day of spring and the beginning of the Iranian solar calendar. It is celebrated on the day of the astronomical vernal equinox (start of spring).

Although the Persian Calendar is very precise about the very moment of turn of the new year, Norouz itself is by definition the very first calendar day of the year, regardless of when the natural turn of the year happens. For instance, in some years, the actual natural moment of turn of the year could happen before the midnight of the first calendar day, but the calendar still starts at 00:00 hours for 24 hours, and those 24 hours constitue the Norouz.

On the first day of Norouz, Iranian families gather around the Haft Sin, or “Seven S’s” table. Families take pride in the beautiful arrangement of seven items that start with the sound of S in Persian. They symbolize the hopes for a successful and happy new year.

Norouz has been celebrated for at least 3,000 years.