Nowruz Celebrations: From White House to Google Doodle

Nowruz, the Persian New Year, is an ancient festival celebrated on the first day of spring in the Northern Hemisphere, marking the end of an old year and the beginning of a new one. The festival is observed by more than 300 million people in different regions, including the Balkans, the Black Sea Basin, the Caucasus, Central Asia, the Middle East, and others. The celebrations last for 13 days and include symbolic preparations with fire and water, ritual dances, and the Haft-Seen table, which is a family activity that includes seven symbolic items starting with the letter S.