How was Nowruz celebrated in the past?

One of the most important aspects of Nowruz celebrations in the past was the preparation leading up to the holiday. In the weeks leading up to Nowruz, families would begin to prepare by cleaning their homes from top to bottom, a practice known as "Khaneh Tekani" or "shaking the house." This was done to rid the house of any negative energy from the previous year and to welcome in the New Year with a fresh start.