Week 29: Persian New Year (Nowruz)

Diversity is any kind of variety that makes our world a better place.  

This week Persians around the world are celebrating Persian New Year.  Before the new year arrived, Persian families were busy cleaning out their homes.  They also purchased new clothes with which to greet the start of the new year.  During the course of the 12 day-long celebration, Persians will visit family members, especially their family elders.  

Incidentally, it is important to understand that Persians and Arabs are not the same.  Though they are both associated with the religion of Islam, they are ethnically different.  Persians live primarily in Iran and Afghanistan and are of an Indo-European background.  Arabs primarily live in the region stretching from North Africa to Iraq, and are identified as Semitic.  

In short, Persians have their own unique culture, history, and language, and Arabs have theirs as well.  Like all people, they are proud of their respective heritages, so if you ever get confused between the two, just ask them—you’ll probably find that they’re happy to explain.  

Remember, you don’t have to travel as far as Iran or Afghanistan to find diversity.  There are hundreds of opportunities to celebrate diversity right here at your own school.  Find one today!