Spring Equinox and the Bahá’í New Year !

Montreal, March 20, 2025 – The Bahá’í communities of various Montreal boroughs, along with countless others worldwide from diverse cultural backgrounds, came together in a spirit of joy and celebration to welcome Naw-Rúz, the Bahá’í New Year.

Naw-Rúz (New Year), which is celebrated on the first day of the first Bahá’í month, was celebrated by both ancient and modern Persia, blending the religious and secular aspects of the event, which took place over several days.

The festival is confirmed by Bahá'u'lláh, who precisely determines its date:

« O Pen of the Most High! Say: O people of the world! We have enjoined upon you fasting during a brief period, and at its close have designated for you Naw-Ruz as a feast. »

As a general rule, the sun enters the sign of Aries after sunset on March 20, meaning that Naw-Rúz is usually observed from sunset on March 20 to sunset on March 21. However, this can occasionally occur on the previous or following day, so the celebration may take place on March 20, 21, or 22.

In addition to the spiritual observance, communities often organize local, regional, or national gatherings on the same day or in the following days. These celebrations typically include communal meals and a program of spiritual and social activities. Naw-Rúz is a holy day on which work is suspended.

"Naw-Rúz" is the festival celebrated by Bahá’ís around the world every year on spring equinox, marking the beginning of the Bahá’í calendar and New Year. March 21, the first day of spring, symbolizes the awakening of nature, the blooming of buds and flowers, and a time of renewal.

In Persian, Naw-Rúz literally means "New Day." According to Iranian mythology, it is said that the All Mighty God created the universe in six days: first the sky, then the earth, water, plants, animals, and on the sixth day, humankind. A festival was held to commemorate each of these creations, and the celebration of humanity’s appearance was called "Naw-Rúz."

Until the year 538 BCE, Naw-Rúz was solely a celebration of the Creation (of humankind). However, from that date onward, the Iranians aligned their New Year—previously celebrated in early autumn—with this festival, which takes place on the first day of spring.

This change was made during the reign of the Persian Emperor Cyrus the Great, who freed the Children of Israel from Babylonian rule and was entrusted by God with the task of rebuilding the Temple of Jerusalem. Cyrus, a follower of the Zoroastrian religion, holds a significant place in history—not only as the first known promoter of a charter of human rights, guaranteeing religious freedom, but also because he is referred to in the Bible as "the shepherd, the anointed of the Lord." Despite the invasions of the region by Alexander of Macedonia, the armies of Islam, the hordes of Genghis Khan and Tamerlane, and the many trials of history, this festival has endured. As a shared cultural tradition, it has even played a role in uniting the diverse peoples of the Iranian Plateau.

In summary, in Iranian mythology, tradition, and culture, Naw-Rúz is considered the Festival of the Creator, the appearance of humankind, the celebration of nature, fertility, hope, and peace. It is also a festival of family, respect for elders and heads of households, friendship, generosity, joy, and children.

A tradition attributed to the Sixth Shi'a Imam states:

“...Naw-Rúz is the day when God made a covenant with the souls of His servants, that they would recognize Him as the One and follow His Messengers and His signs. It is the day when the sun illuminated the world, when the breeze rose to fertilize the plants, and the earth turned green. It is the day when Noah’s Ark finally came to rest, when the Angel Gabriel brought Revelation to His Holiness the Prophet, the day when the Prophet shattered the idols, (...) the day when the Qá'im from the lineage of Muhammad, that is, His Holiness the Possessor of Creation, will be revealed!...”

However, for Bahá’ís, Naw-Rúz also has deep spiritual significance. Naw-Rúz marks the end of the 19-day Bahá’í Fast, which is a period of reflection and profound spiritual reinvigoration for Bahá’ís. Naw-Rúz was ordained by Bahá’u’lláh as a celebration of humanity’s “spiritual springtime”: the Bahá’í dispensation.