Google Doodle celebrates the 3,000-year-old tradition Nowruz

 

In a world where technology often shapes our cultural experiences, it's refreshing to see platforms like Google paying homage to ancient traditions. Recently, Google Doodle celebrated Nowruz, the 3,000-year-old Persian New Year, reminding us of the rich tapestry of human heritage. As we reflect on this celebration, it's fascinating to draw parallels between the preservation of tradition and the innovation of modern marketing strategies, particularly within the realm of e-commerce. In this blog post, we'll explore the significance of Nowruz, its connection to cultural identity, and how businesses like "My Amazon Bee," an Amazon Marketing agency, can learn from the timeless lessons embedded in this ancient festivity.

(The Independent)

Happy Nowruz 2024!

Happy Nowruz 2024! Google Doodle is celebrating the 3,000-year-old, worldwide festival with a sketch that promotes joy and the coming of a new spring.

Nowruz is a tradition that dates back at least three centuries with its earliest roots in ancient Iran – then Persia.

Over the years, the tradition spread among communities on the Silk Roads and became a celebration for multiple countries and ethnic groups.

Nowruz, meaning “new day”, celebrates the new spring season each year, falling on the spring equinox to commemorate the start of the blooming season.

This year, the March equinox, or the ventral equinox, lands on 19 March 2024 at 11.06 pm EDT or 20 March at 6.36 am in Tehran, according to BBC News.

The equinox is the astronomical end of winter and the start of spring; as the daily periods of sunlight continue to lengthen, the periods will change at them fastest around the equinox.

(Times Of India)

More than 300 million people worldwide will be celebrating Nowruz, each with differing traditions that vary depending on country and community, as the celebrations have been adapted and developed over time

One of the main ideas of Nowruz is celebrating the seasonal rebirth that spring symbolizes and the renewal of nature.

Values such as peace, prosperity, respect, and solidarity between generations and within families, as well as strengthening ties with neighbors and communities, are upheld during this festival.

The doodle commemorating this celebration was illustrated by Iranian guest artist Pender Yousefi.

Mr. Yousefi told Google Doodle that Nowruz traditions differ across many communities, so he had to do a lot of research into Nowruz customs and artistic traditions to try and encapsulate that in his artwork.

“I decided to use the visual language of illuminated manuscripts as the anchoring theme since that’s part of the artistic heritage across the regions that celebrate Nowruz,” Mr Yousefi said

The artist was inspired by his happy childhood memories of Nowruz, using animal friends to evoke joy and togetherness.

In the sketch, animals sit in a flower-filled courtyard under a blossoming tree, ringing in the coming of spring.

“Even in challenging times, the spirit of Nowruz - the promise of renewal and a ‘new day’ on the horizon - offers a beacon of hope,” Mr Yousefi added.

(News9live)

The tradition dates back to at least the 6th century BCE, with some of the festival’s earliest origins lying in Zoroastrianism. The return of spring was seen as spiritually significant, symbolizing the perseverance of good over evil, UNESCO said.

As the tradition traveled along the Silk Roads, the festival has been adapted into various local celebrations and narratives.

Cultural activities, such as publishing and reciting poetry, playing folk songs, performing traditional dances, and holding open-air festivals, are practiced in many countries.

One of the most important and widespread traditions during Nowruz is the Nowruz Table, where families gather together and set out symbolic items – such as water, candles, traditional dishes of green sprouts and crushed wheat sprouts, mirrors, eggs, and various fruits – according to UNESCO.