Noruz is the Iranian New Year, and is a celebration of birth and renewal, beginnings, or simply starting fresh. In general, Iranians do a major spring cleaning, get new clothes, set up a special table in their homes with traditional and symbolic items of the new year, and go on vacation and visit family and friends. There is much more to this holiday, and it is an ancient holiday that has been preserved in some form or another over the several thousand years it has been practiced. Below is a link with more information about Noruz, including it's meaning, how it is celebrated, the different rituals involved, and the history. While there are many sources for this information, this one seemed a good place to start. Meaning of Noruz (The photo above of the Zoroastrain Fire Temple in Yazd is linked to a photo web album for the 2009 October tour to Iran).

 

Also, for more informaiton on travel to Iran, click here for our Iran Page - tours, handbook, general information.

We have just a few spaces left on our Syria and our Tunisia-Morocco tours, and it's not too late to sign up. And there is still time to sign up for our tour to Iran in May. This tour will visit the highlights of this ancient land, including the north along the Caspian Sea and coastal mountains. All of these tours are excellent travel opportunities for this spring and are sure to provide a wonderful cultural experience to all particpants!