Today is the beginning of NoRuz.  What’s that?  Here’s a short cut and paste:

[NoRuz] is the traditional Iranian new year holiday celebrated by Iranian peoples, having its roots in Ancient Iran. Apart from the Iranian cultural continent (Greater Iran), the celebration has spread in many other parts of the world, including parts of Central Asia, South Asia, Northwestern China, the Crimea, and some ethnic groups in Albania, Bosnia, Kosovo and the Republic of Macedonia.

Nowruz marks the first day of spring and the beginning of the Iranian year and is a secular holiday. It is celebrated on the day of the astronomical vernal equinox, which usually occurs on March 21 or the previous/following day depending on where it is observed. As well as being a Zoroastrian holiday and having significance amongst the Zoroastrian ancestors of modern Iranians. According to Encyclopedia Britannica, the Jewish festival of Purim, is probably adopted from the Persian New Year.  It is also a holy day for Ismailis, Alawites, Alevis, and adherents of the Bahá’í Faith.

Now, I’m not one for holidays (religious or otherwise), but I can really appreciate a celebration of the Spring Equinox.

(Something tells me that I’ll be getting corrections, shortly . . . )