Nowruz, the Persian New Year, has its origins traced back to the Achaemenid Empire, which was the first Persian Empire founded by Cyrus the Great in 550 BC. Nowruz has been celebrated for over 3,000 years in the Iranian plateau and has strong roots in Zoroastrianism, the ancient religion of Persia. During the Achaemenid Empire, Nowruz was a major celebration that marked the beginning of the spring and the rebirth of nature. It was a time for giving thanks for the blessings of the past year and looking forward to a prosperous future.
