Comment
Rate
Norooz Gets Its Due
 |
| Local leaders celebrated Norooz, the Persian New Year, last Friday in City Hall. Photo by Gary Leonard. |
Persian New Year Gains Attention, Including a City Hall Celebration
by Andrew Moyle
For much of Downtown Los Angeles, 10:25 a.m. Monday will pass without notice. Most people will be too engrossed in the start of a long workweek to be aware of the moment spring arrives.
But for Iranian Americans of every religion, the occasion marks the ancient holiday of Norooz, a Persian New Year celebration little known outside the community.
"Norooz is the great equalizer," said David Nahai, the vice president of the board of commissioners of the DWP, who, like all "Irangelenos" contacted by Los Angeles Downtown News, was happy to explain the holiday's significance.
"It's the one day which is celebrated with the same joy, with the same sense of ownership, by all Iranians. It's the one day we all share with an equal sense of belonging," he said. "The dark cold of winter is behind us, and we get into a time of renewal and birth and beauty."
The globe will quietly bear signs of the day's significance for Persians who have undergone the diaspora of recent decades. Families gather and gifts are exchanged. Cell phones ring continents apart as good wishes are spread. Prayers are spoken aloud.
"It is a holiday," said Fred Simanian, owner of John & Sons House of Leather in the Fashion District, whose expression went from dour to cheerful at the mere mention of the day, even though business has been slow.
"Everybody has a different religion," said Simanian, who is Jewish. "As long as I'm Persian and I'm proud of my country, I'm very happy that it's a new year."
Even City Hall is getting into the act, thanks to the impetus of Hamid Behdad, the city's adaptive reuse czar. Last Friday, local leaders marked the occasion with a private reception followed by a larger celebration in the City Hall rotunda. The event featured a ceremonial table adorned with the customary Norooz panoply: the Haft Seen, or "Seven 'S's."
The traditional spread of dishes all relate to the rebirth of spring and the start of a new year. Sabzeh, or the sprouts of lentil or wheat, represent the rebirth of life. Samanu, the zenith of Persian culinary sophistication, is a pudding made from wheat sprouts and signifies transformation. Seeb, or apples, represent health or beauty. Senjed, the sweet, dried fruit of the lotus tree, stands for love. Seer, or garlic, represents medicine. Somaq, or sumac berries, reflect the color of sunrise and the triumph of good over evil. Serkeh, or vinegar, represents age and patience.
3,000 Years of History
Transliterated variously as Norooz, Norouz, Noruz, Noh Ruz, Náw-Rúz or Nowrouz, the day carries the same meaning, no matter the celebrant's faith. Iranian Muslims, Jews, Christians, Baha'is, and Zoroastrians all look upon the day with equal fondness.
Scholars believe Zoroastrians spawned the observance of the first day of spring 3,000 years ago. Its popularity widened despite the Islamic conquest of Iran in the 7th century. With the restoration of the Persian dynasties in the 9th and 10th centuries, the holiday was elevated to its present station as a way to maintain a common bond in what was then the world's most diverse society.
The holiday's origins and resistance to Islamic homogenization lent it a pan-cultural identity, said Dr. Bahman Rezaipour, a psychiatrist and president of the Iranian American Psychiatric Association.
"Iran was like a hodgepodge of various ethnic backgrounds. They had to find something to unite them," said Rezaipour, who describes himself as an open-minded Muslim. "The influence of the history was so strong that even a ruling government based on Islamic laws couldn't change that. That idea has survived throughout all these years."
Baha'is may await the holiday even more than others, and not just because they will celebrate it Tuesday, one day after most. Members of the faith, the most recent addition to the pantheon of Norooz adherents, have fasted during daylight hours throughout the preceding 19 days
"I'm still alive," said a chuckling Mashiyya Rahmani, who serves as treasurer of the Baha'i Local Spiritual Assembly of Los Angeles. "It's a pleasure. Fasting is a process that is supposed to cleanse your physical body and purify your spirit."
Persecuted for his Baha'i faith - which went unrecognized in his homeland even before the Iranian Revolution in 1979 - he fled Iran in 1968.
His story is familiar to many Iranian Americans. Since the Iranian revolution and the ouster of the Shah, many Americans have viewed Iranians with suspicion, if not downright contempt. (Among Iranians, the term "Persian" gained in popularity after the Shah's overthrow in an attempt to create some distance from the events in their homeland.)
Recent global events have made many Iranian Americans skittish, but not so much that they've given up hope that Norooz will get a place at the table alongside Cinco de Mayo and Chinese New Year, events widely recognized across the cultural divide.
The lesson to be taken is that all L.A. residents can join in the celebration of humanity and the bounty of nature, said Nahai, who is Jewish.
"My hope is that our community here in Los Angeles can give a part of [Norooz] to all Angelenos, and it's something that will be recognized as a special time," Nahai said. "This day helps communicate a positive message to our new home: The Iranians who have come here lost their homeland, but we gained a home."
Contact Andrew Moyle at andrew@downtownnews.com.
page 10, 3/20/2006
© Los Angeles Downtown News. Reprinting items retrieved from the archives are for personal use only. They may not be reproduced or retransmitted without permission of the Los Angeles Downtown News. If you would like to redistribute anything from the Los Angeles Downtown News Archives, please call our permissions department at (213) 481-1448.
But for Iranian Americans of every religion, the occasion marks the ancient holiday of Norooz, a Persian New Year celebration little known outside the community.
"Norooz is the great equalizer," said David Nahai, the vice president of the board of commissioners of the DWP, who, like all "Irangelenos" contacted by Los Angeles Downtown News, was happy to explain the holiday's significance.
"It's the one day which is celebrated with the same joy, with the same sense of ownership, by all Iranians. It's the one day we all share with an equal sense of belonging," he said. "The dark cold of winter is behind us, and we get into a time of renewal and birth and beauty."
The globe will quietly bear signs of the day's significance for Persians who have undergone the diaspora of recent decades. Families gather and gifts are exchanged. Cell phones ring continents apart as good wishes are spread. Prayers are spoken aloud.
"It is a holiday," said Fred Simanian, owner of John & Sons House of Leather in the Fashion District, whose expression went from dour to cheerful at the mere mention of the day, even though business has been slow.
"Everybody has a different religion," said Simanian, who is Jewish. "As long as I'm Persian and I'm proud of my country, I'm very happy that it's a new year."
Even City Hall is getting into the act, thanks to the impetus of Hamid Behdad, the city's adaptive reuse czar. Last Friday, local leaders marked the occasion with a private reception followed by a larger celebration in the City Hall rotunda. The event featured a ceremonial table adorned with the customary Norooz panoply: the Haft Seen, or "Seven 'S's."
The traditional spread of dishes all relate to the rebirth of spring and the start of a new year. Sabzeh, or the sprouts of lentil or wheat, represent the rebirth of life. Samanu, the zenith of Persian culinary sophistication, is a pudding made from wheat sprouts and signifies transformation. Seeb, or apples, represent health or beauty. Senjed, the sweet, dried fruit of the lotus tree, stands for love. Seer, or garlic, represents medicine. Somaq, or sumac berries, reflect the color of sunrise and the triumph of good over evil. Serkeh, or vinegar, represents age and patience.
Transliterated variously as Norooz, Norouz, Noruz, Noh Ruz, Náw-Rúz or Nowrouz, the day carries the same meaning, no matter the celebrant's faith. Iranian Muslims, Jews, Christians, Baha'is, and Zoroastrians all look upon the day with equal fondness.
Scholars believe Zoroastrians spawned the observance of the first day of spring 3,000 years ago. Its popularity widened despite the Islamic conquest of Iran in the 7th century. With the restoration of the Persian dynasties in the 9th and 10th centuries, the holiday was elevated to its present station as a way to maintain a common bond in what was then the world's most diverse society.
The holiday's origins and resistance to Islamic homogenization lent it a pan-cultural identity, said Dr. Bahman Rezaipour, a psychiatrist and president of the Iranian American Psychiatric Association.
"Iran was like a hodgepodge of various ethnic backgrounds. They had to find something to unite them," said Rezaipour, who describes himself as an open-minded Muslim. "The influence of the history was so strong that even a ruling government based on Islamic laws couldn't change that. That idea has survived throughout all these years."
Baha'is may await the holiday even more than others, and not just because they will celebrate it Tuesday, one day after most. Members of the faith, the most recent addition to the pantheon of Norooz adherents, have fasted during daylight hours throughout the preceding 19 days
"I'm still alive," said a chuckling Mashiyya Rahmani, who serves as treasurer of the Baha'i Local Spiritual Assembly of Los Angeles. "It's a pleasure. Fasting is a process that is supposed to cleanse your physical body and purify your spirit."
Persecuted for his Baha'i faith - which went unrecognized in his homeland even before the Iranian Revolution in 1979 - he fled Iran in 1968.
His story is familiar to many Iranian Americans. Since the Iranian revolution and the ouster of the Shah, many Americans have viewed Iranians with suspicion, if not downright contempt. (Among Iranians, the term "Persian" gained in popularity after the Shah's overthrow in an attempt to create some distance from the events in their homeland.)
Recent global events have made many Iranian Americans skittish, but not so much that they've given up hope that Norooz will get a place at the table alongside Cinco de Mayo and Chinese New Year, events widely recognized across the cultural divide.
The lesson to be taken is that all L.A. residents can join in the celebration of humanity and the bounty of nature, said Nahai, who is Jewish.
"My hope is that our community here in Los Angeles can give a part of [Norooz] to all Angelenos, and it's something that will be recognized as a special time," Nahai said. "This day helps communicate a positive message to our new home: The Iranians who have come here lost their homeland, but we gained a home."
Contact Andrew Moyle at andrew@downtownnews.com.
page 10, 3/20/2006
© Los Angeles Downtown News. Reprinting items retrieved from the archives are for personal use only. They may not be reproduced or retransmitted without permission of the Los Angeles Downtown News. If you would like to redistribute anything from the Los Angeles Downtown News Archives, please call our permissions department at (213) 481-1448.
 |
||
| The New Downtown Denim District |
Article Rating
Reader Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of ladowntownnews.com.
You must register with a valid email to post comments. Only your Member ID will be posted with the comments.
Registered users sign in here: |
Become a Registered User |
Popular Searches
