While children happily created crafts, munched on cookies and listened to musicians at the Newton Free Library on March 8, during an event marking Nowruz, the Persian New Year, many families with relatives in Iran also expressed worry and hope, due to the outbreak of war.
The conflict began after U.S. and Israeli aircraft started bombing Iran on February 28. As of March 9, the situation remains ongoing.
Although the realities of war remained front of mind for some attendees, the library event focused on children learning about Nowruz, a spring gathering which means “new day” in Persian.
According to the United Nations, the festival has roots extending back 3,000 years and “is far more than just the start of a new year – it is an ancient celebration of life, rebirth, and the triumph of light over darkness.”
The Newton Free Library hosted Nowruz (which falls on March 20) for the first time giving the community a chance to learn more about the beloved festival. The event was co-sponsored by Bagche, a non-religious and non-political nonprofit that offers Farsi lessons and teaches about Persian culture in Newton.
While young children decorated symbolic items used during Nowruz, some parents expressed mixed feelings about marking the usually joyful holiday during such an uncertain time.
“We are deeply worried and sad, but at the same time, we need to pass this ceremony on to our kids,” said volunteer Dena Eidipour, who came with her two children and husband to the library. Living in Billerica now, she moved to the U.S. from Iran in 2016.
Worried about her parents and siblings, Eidipour said she is unable to call Iran from the U.S. but said they can call her.
Like Eidipour, Leila Hoseinzade worried about her family in Iran while at the library event. She, her husband Mahdi Eskandari, and son Aiden Eskandari, 3, moved to the U.S. six months ago from Canada. Twelve years earlier, she and her husband had moved there from Iran.
“Many of us are going through mixed feelings” about marking the holiday during such tumultuous times, she said. While concerned about their families, they also expressed optimism for a better situation in Iran when the conflict ends.
“We are hoping for a good future and freedom,” said Hoseinzade.
Passing on traditions
Baharan MacLean, a Newton resident, and Marzieh Mirhashemi, both volunteers with Bagche, weighed whether to hold a Nowruz event even before the start of the war in February.
In January, thousands of protesters in Iran were killed by government forces, leaving the women questioning whether a celebration was appropriate.
“We lost connection to our families … and were observing a catastrophe,” said Mirhashemi. “Nobody was in a mood to celebrate.”
However, “Nowruz symbolizes resilience,” she said. So Bagche decided to honor that aspect of the holiday during the library event.
Instead of treating Nowruz as a celebration, the group decided to mark the day “as a community coming together … [to] look for brighter days.”
“Our main goal [was to] come together and share our beautiful culture,” said MacLean.
