03/20/2026
“Even after all this time, the sun never says to the earth: you owe me. Look what happens with a love like that — it lights the whole world.” — Hafez
Nowruz is my favorite time of year — not just as a celebration, but as the first day of spring.
I left Iran in 1981, a few months into the war. I was young, but I remember the fear. Nothing good comes from war. Nothing. And this year, with Iran at war again, I find myself celebrating with a heavy heart.
This year I celebrate with gratitude and with grief. Gratitude for a culture rich in poetry, in warmth, in hospitality, in beauty. Grief for a country at war, for the people living in fear right now — a fear I briefly knew as a child and never forgot.
But I celebrate anyway — because that is what this holiday teaches us. No matter how long or dark the winter, spring always comes. The table is set, the sabzeh grows, the hyacinths bloom. We light the candles and we gather. We keep the tradition alive because it is worth keeping alive.
Persian culture is extraordinary — the poetry, the food, the language, the warmth of its people. I am so proud to come from it. I pray for peace. For Iran, and for our whole world. A world where we can sit at each other’s tables, share our food, recite our poems, and build something beautiful for our children.
نوروزتان پیروز 🌿 Happy Nowruz to all who are celebrating — and Happy First Day of Spring to everyone else. 🌸
SpringEquinox
