Enjoy brightly dressed dancers, delicious food, tradition, and lore at the Nowruz Festival on Sunday. This is a chance to celebrate spring and learn about the Persian New Year. Nowruz, which translates to “new day,” is a vibrant celebration of life.
There will be “Lots of Persian items, lots of Persian cookies, lots of Persian artwork. When I started this event, my main wish was to celebrate this big, big festival and let our host, American people, and non-Farsi speakers learn about this wonderful celebration,” said Shoreh Asemi, the festival founder and organizer.
Asemi first started the Nowruz festival 14 years ago at Dulles Town Center. Since then, it has grown in scope. She said the event crosses religions and ethnicities. Today, it is celebrated in many countries.
The Persian or Shahenshahi calendar differs because the new year coincides with the vernal equinox. So, instead of midnight on Jan. 1, the new year begins at some point on March 20 or March 21. This year, the vernal equinox takes place at 5:01 a.m. on March 20.
Asemi explained that the celebrations date back almost 3,000 years and that there are many traditions and symbols associated with the festival.
“For example, on the last Saturday before New Year, we have Chaharshanbeh Suri. We put a bonfire somewhere safe,” said Asemi. “People, they jump this fire and celebrate and eat and have fun. It says we give all our sorrow, our pain to this fire and we get all the energy and goodness from this fire.”
Another tradition is a unique table called the Haft Sin. Asemi said you can find this table in most Persian households. Haft Sin translates to “Seven S’s.” Tradition calls for seven specific items to be placed on the table. Beyond that, some people will add a mirror meant to reflect creation and additional tokens to symbolize what they hope for in the new year.
The items “symbolize patience, they symbolize life, health. Each of them, they symbolize something,” said Asemi. “It’s a symbol of renewal of life, and love, and health, and patience, and lots of other things.”
Outside, there will be six food trucks from which guests can choose. There will also be several indoor vendors. Typical Persian foods include a variety of stews, rice, kebabs, sandwiches, and lots of baked goods. Many of the foods are explicitly made for Nowruz.
Asemi added that there will be Ash Reshteh, a thick Persian noodle soup. She recommends getting this early, as it usually sells out by late afternoon.
The festival has over seven hours of entertainment scheduled, including traditional Iranian dancers. Guests will be able to see the mythical character Haji Firuz, the herald of Nowruz, who watches over the festival events. He is dressed in bright red clothing and a felt hat. Haji Firuz most likely comes from Zoroastrian fire-keeper lore and his face is covered in soot. He and his troupe of musicians will sing and play the tambourine as they get everyone excited for the new year.
In an activity room specially designed for children, they can also learn about Haft Sin and other Nowruz traditions.
“Please come and learn about this beautiful old culture,” said Asemi. “I invite all people, all your readers, to come and celebrate with us.”
The 11th Annual Nowruz Festival will take place this Sunday at the Hilton Dulles International Airport from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Parking will be available in a designated area behind the hotel.
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