Iranian New Year

Come celebrate Nowruz and welcome in the delight of the vernal equinox with the Cultural Iranian Society of Wellington. Join us at Whirinaki Whare Taonga to revel in culture and tradition, view our Haftseen, listen to music, dance, enjoy traditional Iranian dishes and other food.

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What is Nowruz?
The vernal equinox in the northern hemisphere kicks off the celebration of the Iranian New Year or Nowruz - ‘New Day’. This ancient holiday is celebrated by all Iranians regardless of their religions – Zoroastrians, Jews, Christians, Muslims, Baha’is, and atheists – and holds a higher place in the Iranian calendar than any national or religious holiday.
Preparation for Nowruz begins with people cleaning their houses from top to bottom to welcome spring into their homes. The weeks leading to Nowruz are spent in shopping malls and bazaars finding the right piece of clothing to wear the moment the sun crosses the equator – a moment that defines how the new year will be.
On the eve of Nowruz, each family sets up a spread of haftseen ‘seven S’s’ with items that symbolize the wishes for the new year: health, patience, prosperity, light, rebirth, fertility, and beauty. During this two-week celebration, families visit relatives and friends and embrace the renewal of earth by spending time in gardens or picnicking in parks and nature preserves.

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Everyone is welcome. So grab a friend and let’s celebrate the start of a new year. You do not want to miss out on this truly unique annual cultural experience!
Book your tickets now. There are only limited spaces. Tickets are sold as long as seats are available, but you do have to be quick as sometimes they go very quickly.