Campus Ministry

By Crystal Caruana Sullivan Executive Director of Campus Ministry

Members of the University of Dayton community celebrate important religious holidays and cultural celebrations that span many different faith and cultural traditions. Sunday, March 21st is Nowruz, the Iranian New Year which is celebrated worldwide. This ancient holiday coincides with the spring equinox and is celebrated both as a secular holiday and a religious one by members of several different faiths. It remains a holy day for Zoroastrians. The Baha’i celebrate Nowruz as New Year’s Day, marking the end of the annual 19-day fast. For Baha’i it is one of the nine holy days of the year when work is suspended and children are exempted from attending school. 

Nowruz, also known as the Persian New Year, marks the first day of the first month (Farvardin) in the Iranian calendar as well as the beginning of spring in the Northern Hemisphere. Families gather together to observe the rituals once the sun crosses the celestial equator and equalizes night and day. Iranians consider Nowruz as their biggest celebration of the year. Before the new year, some people start cleaning their houses (Khaane Tekaani), and may even buy new clothes.

A major New Year ritual is setting the "Haft Seen" with seven specific items. In ancient times, these seven items symbolized the creations and the holy immortals protecting them. Today they are changed and modified but some have kept their symbolism. These seven items usually are referred to as the seven “S’s”: Seeb (apple), Sabze (green grass), Serke (vinegar), Samanoo (a meal made out of wheat), Senjed (a special kind of berry), Sekke (coin), and Seer (garlic). Sometimes instead of Serke they put Somagh (sumak, an Iranian spice). Zoroastrians today do not have the seven items, but they have the ritual of growing seven seeds as a reminder that this is the seventh feast of creation, while their sprouting into new growth symbolized resurrection and eternal life to come. Baha’i celebrate this day as the Springtime of humanity's rebirth.

To all students, staff and faculty, let's use occasions like these to reflect and renew. Happy Nowruz to everyone! May it be filled with joy and learning.  For more information about NawRuz, consult these resources:
https://cmes.fas.harvard.edu/files/NowruzCurriculumText.pdf

https://bahaiteachings.org/welcome-to-the-bahai-new-year-naw-ruz/