On behalf of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), I would like to wish a Happy New Year to communities that are celebrating Nowruz both in the United States and around the world.
Celebrated at the vernal equinox, Nowruz marks the start of a new year and spring, symbolizing renewal, love, and hope. According to the United Nations, Nowruz is celebrated by 300 million people worldwide, many of them in the Middle East, South and Central Asia, the Caucasus, the Black Sea, the Balkans, and other regions. Communities that honor Nowruz often prepare for the holiday by spring cleaning their homes and celebrate the day itself visiting with family and friends, enjoying special meals, and participating in festivals with traditional music, dance, and sports.
While it is more challenging to spend time with loved ones during the pandemic, I hope you can safely connect in some way with others and find solace in the holiday’s embrace of regeneration and hope.