All about Naw-Rúz

Naw-Rúz is a special celebration in the Baha'i faith that marks the beginning of a new year. It is a time for joy, renewal, and reflection. During Naw-Rúz, Baha'is gather with their families and friends to pray, share delicious food, and participate in community activities.

The story of Naw-Rúz is rooted in the teachings of Baha'u'llah, the founder of the Baha'i faith. Baha'u'llah taught that Naw-Rúz is a time to celebrate the beauty of nature and the changing seasons. It is a time to be grateful for all the blessings in our lives and to look forward to the future with hope and optimism.

On Naw-Rúz, Baha'is often clean their homes, wear new clothes, and exchange gifts as symbols of new beginnings and fresh starts. They also visit the homes of friends and family members to share in the joy of the holiday.

Overall, Naw-Rúz is a time of happiness and unity for Baha'is around the world. It is a time to come together in love and fellowship, and to reaffirm their commitment to living a life of service, kindness, and peace.

  1. What is Naw-Rúz and why is it important in the Baha'i faith?
  2. How do Baha'is celebrate Naw-Rúz with their families and friends?
  3. Why is Naw-Rúz considered a time of joy, renewal, and reflection?
  4. How do Baha'is symbolize new beginnings during Naw-Rúz?
  5. Discuss the significance of Naw-Rúz in promoting unity and happiness among Baha'is worldwide.

Symbols and Traditions

Naw-Rúz is a special celebration in the Baha'i faith that marks the beginning of a new year. It is a time for Baha'is to reflect on the past year and set new goals for the year ahead. One important symbol of Naw-Rúz is the haft-seen table, which is decorated with seven items that start with the Persian letter "S." Each item represents something special, like health, happiness, or rebirth.

During Naw-Rúz, Baha'is also participate in acts of service and charity to help those in need and spread kindness in their communities. This tradition reminds people to be grateful for what they have and to always help others.

Another important tradition of Naw-Rúz is the practice of forgiveness and reconciliation. Baha'is believe in the importance of letting go of past grievances and starting fresh with a clean heart and mind.

Overall, Naw-Rúz is a joyful and meaningful celebration in the Baha'i faith that encourages reflection, gratitude, kindness, and forgiveness as Baha'is welcome the new year with hope and positivity.

  1. What is the significance of the haft-seen table in Naw-Rúz?
  2. How do Baha'is participate in acts of service during Naw-Rúz?
  3. Why is forgiveness and reconciliation an important tradition during Naw-Rúz?
  4. How does Naw-Rúz encourage reflection and gratitude among Baha'is?
  5. Discuss the importance of spreading kindness in the community during Naw-Rúz.

My Family and Naw-Rúz

Hi, my name is Nora and I am 8 years old. Today I want to share with you all about how my family celebrates Naw-Rúz, a special time in the Baha'i faith that marks the start of a new year. It's a time for us to think about the past year and make plans for the year ahead.

  1. One special tradition during Naw-Rúz is setting up the haft-seen table. It's decorated with seven items that all start with the letter "S" in Persian.
  2. During Naw-Rúz, we also do acts of kindness and charity to help others in our community.
  3. We believe in forgiving others and starting fresh during this time, which is a really important part of Naw-Rúz for us.
  4. Naw-Rúz is a time for reflection, gratitude, and spreading happiness and positivity around us. It's such a joyful celebration!

Here are some questions for you to think about:

  1. What are some items that are typically included on the haft-seen table during Naw-Rúz?
  2. How do Baha'is participate in acts of service and charity during Naw-Rúz?
  3. Why is forgiveness an important part of the Naw-Rúz celebration?
  4. How do you think celebrating Naw-Rúz helps people to start the new year with hope and positivity?
  5. What are some ways you can show kindness and spread happiness in your community?

Comparing Naw-Rúz to another Festival

After learning all about Naw-Rúz, is there another festival that you celebrate or that you know that is similar in any way? Make a project comparing the similarities and differences between this festival and Naw-Rúzand think about what symbols and traditions that are part of it. Think about the story of the festival, if it has one, where it is mainly celebrated - whether it is one country or all over the world. You can produce the project using any medium whether it's paper or on a laptop.

Slideshow - Naw-Rúz
A full set of teaching plans for Naw-Rúzteaching.