International Day of Nowruz

The United Nations’ (UN) International Day of Nowruz celebrates the start of the Persian spring festival March 21 ever year. It occurs on or around the time of the March equinox.

Nowruz celebrations can include traditional folk dances.Nowruz celebrations can include traditional folk dances.©iStockphoto.com/tunart

What do people do?

About 300 million people worldwide celebrate Nowruz, with traditions and rituals particularly strong in the Balkans, the Black Sea and Caspian Sea regions, the Caucasus, Central and South Asia, and the Middle East. Events may include folk dance performances, special concerts, and tree planting ceremonies.

Public life

International Nowruz Day is a global observance. The Nowruz festival is a public holiday in some countries, such as Iran.

Background

Nowruz is an ancestral festivity marking the first day of spring and the renewal of nature. It was proclaimed as an official UN observance because it promotes peace and solidarity, particularly in families. The day also focuses reconciliation and neighborliness, contributing to cultural diversity and friendship among peoples and different communities.

International Day of Nowruz Observances

WeekdayDateYearNameHoliday typeWhere it is observed
SunMar 212010International Day of NowruzUnited Nations observance 
MonMar 212011International Day of NowruzUnited Nations observance 
WedMar 212012International Day of NowruzUnited Nations observance 
ThuMar 212013International Day of NowruzUnited Nations observance 
FriMar 212014International Day of NowruzUnited Nations observance 
SatMar 212015International Day of NowruzUnited Nations observance 
MonMar 212016International Day of NowruzUnited Nations observance 
TueMar 212017International Day of NowruzUnited Nations observance 
WedMar 212018International Day of NowruzUnited Nations observance 
ThuMar 212019International Day of NowruzUnited Nations observance 
SatMar 212020International Day of NowruzUnited Nations observance 

Quick Facts

The UN’s International Day of Nowruz, also known as Nowruz, No-Ruz, No-Rooz or No Ruz, is observed on March 21 each year.

International Day of Nowruz 2015

Saturday, March 21, 2015

International Day of Nowruz 2016

Monday, March 21, 2016

Name in other languages

NameLanguage
International Day of NowruzEnglish
Día Internacional de NowruzSpanish
נורוזHebrew
نوروزArabic
누루즈Korean
Internationaler Norooz-TagGerman
List of dates for other years

Other calendars

Related links

http://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/un/nowruz-day