Happy Nowrūz نوروز, Nauroz

Nowrūz (Persian: نوروز, various local pronunciations and spellings) is the traditional Iranian new year holiday celebrated in Iran, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, Albania, Armenia, Georgia, the countries of Central Asia such as Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan, as well as among various other Iranian and Turkic people in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Pakistan, India, Northwestern China, the Caucasus, the Crimea,the Balkans and Malaysia and Indonesia.

Nowruz marks the first day of spring and the beginning of the Iranian year as well as the beginning of the Bahá'í year. It is celebrated on the day of the astronomical vernal equinox (start of spring in northern hemisphere), which usually occurs on the March 21st or the previous/following day depending on where it is observed.

As well as being a Zoroastrian holiday, it is also a holy day for adherents of Sufism as well as Bahá'í Faith. In Iran it is also referred to as an Eid festival, although it is not an Islamic feast. Shia Nizari Ismaili muslims, who trace their origins to Iran, celebrate the festival under the name Navroz. In their religious protocol, Navroz is officially recognized as an Eid, as with Eid ul-Fitr and Eid ul-Adha, although it involves a distinct set of religious ceremonies. Alawites also celebrate Nowruz.

The term Nooroz first appeared in Persian records in the second century AD, but it was also an important day during the time of the Achaemenids (c. 648-330 BC), where kings from different nations under the Persian empire used to bring gifts to the emperor (Shahanshah) of Persia on Nowruz.

The book I wrote on Afghanistan which has a number of photos on Nowruz.

I have celebrated Nowruz many times in Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Bangladesh and India. It is probably celebrated with the most vigor in Mazar I Sharif in Afghanistan, where a huge fertility pole is raised with ribbons tied to it. Each ribbon represents someones prayers.

In Northern Afghanistan the feritliy pole is a pre-Islamic celebration seen as a phallic symbol. Around 20 to 21 March, the winter snows starts to melt and the celebrations and prayers are in the hope that the spring will bring plenty of water to nourish the crops and bring fertility to land and people.

At the Blue Mosque in Mazar I Sharif on Nowruz, the fertility pole is raised. Taken on 21 March 1994. Photo: Bob McKerrow

Nowruz and the Spring Equinox

In Afghanistan, Nowroz festival is traditionally celebrated for 2 weeks. Preparations for Nowroz start several days beforehand, at least after Chaharshanbe Suri, the last Wednesday before the New Year. Among various traditions and customs, the most important one is :

Haft Mēwa: In Afghanistan, they prepare Haft Mēwa (Seven Fruits) instead of Haft Sin which is common in Iran. Haft Mewa is like a Fruit salad made from 7 different Dried fruits, served in their own syrup. The 7 dried fruits are: Raisin, Senjed (the dried fruit of the oleaster tree), Pistachio, Hazelnut, Prune (dry fruit of Apricot), Walnut and whether Almond or another species of Plum fruit.

Along with other customs and celebrations, normally a Buzkashi tournament is held. The Buzkashi matches take place in northern cities of Afghanistan and in Kabul.

In Mazar I Sharif they play Buskashi for the week following Nowroz

So happy Nowruz. The reason it is so important to me is that my birthday, on 21st of March, usually coincides with Nowruz. This celebration has certainly brought fertility to my life as I am the proud Father of seven wonderful children. If you need further infirmation, see a much longer explanation of Nowruz.

A preoccupation with Oscar Pistorius and horsemeat.

With so many real issues to tackle in the world such as increasing poverty, conflict in many countries, the abuse of women and with other forms of exploitation rampant, it seems so frivolous we divert our attention to Oscar Pistorious and horsemeat. The horsemeat outcry intrigues more that Oscar's predicament, for in South America, China, Japan, Central Asia and many European countries including France, Italy, and Switzerland, horsemeat is just as common on the dinner table as other meats. The eight most populous countries in the world consume almost 5 million horses each year.

In France, the appetite for eating horse meat has existed for a couple of centuries. Baron Dominique-Jean Larry, Napolean's surgeon-in-chief, suggested that because the troops were starving, they should cook and eat the meat from horses that had died on the battlefields. So the cavalry took off their breastplates, heated them over a fire, threw in a few spices, and roast loin of Trigger was the result.

Horsemeat is actually pretty healthy to eat, if you can get past the image of a filly's kind, soulful eyes looking at you. The meat is lean, finely textured, slightly sweet, rich in protein, and tender. Even better, horses are immune to bovine spongiform encephalopathy (mad cow disease). A large majority of the 65,000 horses that are slaughtered each year in the United States are shipped to Japan, Europe, and Quebec for consumption by consumers. Montreal is particularly fond of horsemeat, and butchers that specialize in it have become increasingly busy in recent years because of the spread of mad cow disease. In Quebec and European countries, only horse butchers can sell horsemeat, and it is sold in the form of minced meat, sausages, steaks, and brochettes.

An individual's decision about the consumption of horsemeat is often based on religious reasons. Many Muslim cultures do not strictly forbid the consumption of horsemeat, but it is strongly advised against. One explanation for discouraging eating horsemeat is that horses are used regularly in the military in Muslim countries, but because such use is declining in modern society, many feel that eating horsemeat should not be forbidden. Jewish laws in regard to diet forbid the consumption of horsemeat because of the fact that horses are not ruminants and they do not have cloven hooves. The Roman Catholic Church prohibited eating horsemeat in the 8th century, and the taboo still remains.

Probably the most prevalent reason that many people abhor the idea of eating horsemeat is that for centuries horses have shared a close relationship, similar to domestic pets, with human owners and breeders. This closeness is regularly demonstrated in movies such as Black Beauty, and in books such as My Friend Flicka and Misty of Chincoteague. Most people in the United States consider horses to be companions, not dinner. Yet in many other countries around the world, it is considered a delicacy. Proof that one person's pet could be someone else's protein!