What is Newroz and why It is so important in Kurdish Culture?

Of all the Kurdish national festivals, the New Year celebrations are at once the most important and the most colorful. This festival embodies a wealth of ancient rites and customs, and is about the only one in Kurdistan which is not confined to the traditions of only one religious group. It symbolizes that continuity of the ancient Kurdish culture which has survived so many adversities and vicissitudes.

In harmony with the rebirth of nature, Newroz always begins on the first day of spring marked by vernal equinox. On that day -which may occur on March 20 – 21 or 22 – the sun crosses the celestial equator.

As far back as records go, Newroz has been, either in fact or by intention, a celebration of early spring, when the sun begins to regain strength and overcome winter’s cold and darkness and when there is a renewal of growth and vigor in nature.


The Kurds, in particular, have been celebrating this occasion in various countries throughout the world. Even though the Kurds are an ancient people of the Middle East, most are living in Iraq, Turkey, Iran, Syria, Armenia and Azerbaijan, and there are also a millions Kurds living as a minority in the other Middle East countries as well as other parts of the world.

According to Kurdish myth, Kaveh was a Kurd (written as Kawa in Kurdish), lived 2,500 years ago under the tyranny of Zahak, an Assyrian who is named Zuhak by the Kurds. Zuhak’s evil reign caused spring to no longer come to Kurdistan. March 20 is traditionally marked as the day that Kawa defeated Dehak. He is then said to have set fire to the hillsides to celebrate the victory and summon his supporters; subsequently spring returned to Kurdistan the next day.

Newroz is the single most important and most inspiring festival/day on the Kurdish Calendar. It’s a day of freedom and independence, “the day of Victory over tyranny.” With characteristics deeply rooted in the traditions of Zoroastrianism, it even predates this religion.

The common and popular roots of Newroz mean that it is free of any official or religious rituals, even though it is the official New Year. The few days of Newroz holiday are spent visiting relatives, relaxing, and going to picnics to enjoy the traditional New Year foods. Newroz is also the natural rebirth of nature and, despite its Iranian characteristics, can easily be celebrated by all the people in the world!
 Happy Newroz and Happy Kurdish year 2714

بە سوپاسەوە ئەم ووتارە وەرگیراوە
هەندێک دەسکاریم کردووە بۆ ئێوەی بەرێزم داناوەتەوە