Nowruz Around The World
Nowruz is celebrated in Greater Iran, Caucasus, Central Asia and by Iranians worldwide. It is a public holiday in Iran, Iraq, Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and India. Also the Canadian parliament by unanimous consent, has passed a bill to add Nowruz to the national calendar of Canada, on March 30, 2009.
In Albania Sultan Nevruz is celebrated as a mainly mystical day by the Bektashi sect, and there are special ceremonies in the Tekke led by the clergy and large meals are served there. They celebrate this day as the birthday of Ali. Also all Albanians celebrate a secular version of Nowruz, called Spring Day. Nowruz is also celebrated by all people in Iraq and Turkey as well as by Parsis in the Indian subcontinent.
Other notable celebrations take place by Iranians around the world, such as Los Angeles, Toronto, Cologne and in United Kingdom, mainly in London. But because Los Angeles is prone to devastating fires, there are very strict fire codes in the city. No fires are allowed even on one's own property. Usually, Iranians living in Southern California go to the beaches to celebrate the event where it is permissible to build fires. On 15 March 2010, The United States House of Representatives passed The Nowruz Resolution (H.Res. 267), by a 384-2 vas cote, "Recognizing the cultural and historical significance of Nowruz, ... .".
In Iran, the Islamic Regime attempted to suppress Nowruz following the Iranian Revolution and was met with very little success. The Ayatollahs considered Nowruz a pagan holiday and a distraction from more important things such as Islamic holidays.
It is also a holy day for Alawites, Alevis, and adherents of the Bahá'í Faith. Countries that have Nowruz as a public holiday include the following:
- Afghanistan (21 March)
- Albania (22 March)
- Azerbaijan (20 March to 26 March, total of 7 days)
- Azeris in Georgia (country), Georgia
- Kosovo (21 March)
- Kyrgyzstan (21 March)
- The Parsis in India use a Shahenshahi calendar
- Iran (20 March to 23 March, total of 4 days in general + total of 13 days for schools and universities)
- Iraq (de jure in Iraqi Kurdistan, de facto national) (21 March)
- Kazakhstan (21 March to 24 March, total of 4 days)
- Tajikistan (20 March to 23 March, total of 4 days)
- Turkmenistan (20 March to 23 March, total of 4 days)
- Uzbekistan (21 March)
Read more about this topic: Newroz
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