Norouz (en kurde : Newroz; en turc : Nevruz) est la fête traditionnelle des peuples iraniens et des peuples turcs qui célèbrent le nouvel an du calendrier iranien (premier jour du printemps). La fête est célébrée par certaines communautés le 21 mars et par d’autres le jour de l’équinoxe vernal, dont la date varie entre le 20 et le 22 mars. Elle est d’ailleurs aussi considérée par certaines communautés comme une renaissance voir mythe et aussi considérée surtout comme une nouvelle année qui s’annonce.
Le mot vient de l’avestique nava, « nouveau » + rəzaŋh, « jour »/« lumière du jour » (« nouveau jour »/« nouvelle lumière »), et qui a toujours le même sens en persan (no, « nouveau » + rouz, « jour », signifiant « nouveau jour »)
En kurde, le nom est décliné selon les dialectes ou les translittérations sous diverses formes dont : Newroz, Nûroj ou Neweroc.
En kazakh, la forme retenue est Nauryz
http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norouz
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Nowruz marks the first day of spring and the beginning of the year in the Persian calendar. It is celebrated on the day of the astronomical Northward equinox, which usually occurs on March 21 or the previous/following day depending on where it is observed. The moment the sun crosses the celestial equator and equalizes night and day is calculated exactly every year and families gather together to observe the rituals.
Nowruz is celebrated by people from diverse ethnic communities and religious backgrounds for thousands of years. It is a secular holiday that is enjoyed by people of several different faiths. It originated in Persia in one of the capitals of the Achaemenid empire in Persis (Fars) in Iran and is also celebrated by the cultural region that came under Iranian influence or had migrations by Persians including Azerbaijan, Kurdish inhabited regions of Turkey, Iraq and Syria, Western Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan and other scattered populations in Central Asia. The distinct culture based on the language, food, music and leisure activities that developed among the many people and ethnic groups who lived in this area are known as Persians.
Nowruz is partly rooted in the religious tradition of Zoroastrianism. Among other ideas, Zoroastrianism is the first ever monotheistic religion that emphasizes broad concepts such as the corresponding work of good and evil in the world, and the connection of humans to nature. Zoroastrian practices were dominant for much of the history of ancient Persia (centered in what is now Iran). Nowruz is believed to have been invented by Zoroaster himself, although there is no clear date of origin Since the Achaemenid era the official year has begun with the New Day when the Sun leaves the zodiac of Pisces and enters the zodiacal sign of Aries, signifying the Spring Equinox. Nowruz is also a holy day for Sufis, Bektashis, Ismailis, Alawites,[ Alevis, Babis and adherents of the Bahá’í Faith.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nowruz
