Iranian Christian Shadi explores how five themes of Persian New Year (Nowruz) – soon to be celebrated by 300 million people worldwide – provide bridges for the Gospel.

If you have Iranian, Afghan, Turkish, or Central Asian friends, I want you to know that right now they are very excited. Why?

Because our most beloved annual celebration – Persian New Year or “Nowruz” – is rapidly approaching. Globally, 300 million of us will celebrate this 3,000-year-old holiday when the vernal equinox ushers in Spring on March 20th.

If you go far enough back, the holiday has Zoroastrian roots but today it’s celebrated by people of all faiths and none. “Nowruz” means “New Day” in Persian, and the whole celebration is infused with the hope, joy, and expectation that come with renewal.

Now that I am a Christian, I can see that so many of the themes and symbols we have at Nowruz are natural bridges to the Gospel of Christ. Perhaps this explains why so many people become Christians in the Iran region each year around Nowruz.

Let me share just five of these bridges with you:

1. Cleansing and renewal

Preparations for Nowruz begin weeks in advance with "Khaneh Takani," or "shaking down the house." This deep cleaning process may involve washing carpets, scrubbing surfaces, discarding expired food, and adorning rooms with greenery.  Beyond just freshening up the home, this tradition of spring cleaning symbolises a fresh start for the new year.

Every time I “shake down” my own house, I am reminded that our souls- not just our homes - are in need of cleansing and renewal. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come.” This is absolutely true in my life. Before Christ, I was a very sombre person, but since meeting Jesus I have overflowed with joy. The change was so marked that I gained a new name: “Shadi” – “Joy” in Persian.

Just as people prepare their homes for Nowruz, Jesus invites us to prepare our hearts for true renewal through Him.

2. Reconciliation

The 13-day Nowruz holiday is a time for family reunions, mending broken relationships, and embracing unity. Seeing families reconciled is beautiful, but sadly, it doesn’t always last. As a child, my family had a strained relationship with my uncle’s. Every Nowruz, we would dutifully visit, eat politely together, but soon after, tensions returned.

Looking back now, I can see that without Christ, deep reconciliation with others was out of reach because first I needed to be reconciled to God. 2 Corinthians 5:18 explains that “through Christ, God reconciled us to Himself”. The cross was God’s great act of reconciliation in answer to the great divide between a Holy God and a broken but beloved humanity. This reconciliation through Christ is what paves the way for deep and lasting reconciliation with others.

How wonderful to have a greater story of reconciliation to share this Nowruz!

3. Abundant blessings

Every Nowruz, families lovingly set up a “Haft-Seen” table with seven or more symbolic items. (“Haft-Seen” means “Seven things starting with the letter S”.) Each represents a blessing hoped for in the year ahead. For example, “seer” (garlic) represents health and healing, “sekkeh” (coins) means prosperity, and a “sib” (apple) signifies well-being and beauty. Other items represent wisdom, renewal, fertility, and so on.

The Haft-Seen table is a springboard for Christians to talk about Jesus with family members at Nowruz: we might say, “The sekkeh points to riches, but I’ve found the greatest treasure is knowing Christ…” or “This sabzeh (sprouting greens) signifies rebirth and Jesus says we all need rebirth in Him…”

When people are seeking blessing, how precious to introduce people to Jesus, in whom “we have every spiritual blessing in the Heavenly places” (Ephesians 1:3).

4. Wisdom for life

With the start of Spring, Persians seek wisdom for the year. This is why a book of wisdom is placed on Haft-Seen tables, often a book of verse by revered Persian poet Hafez. In a form of fortune telling, people open the book at random and believe the verse they land on carries significance. Fortune telling’s popularity in Iran may be surprising, but people deeply desire guidance for their life, especially in a volatile political and economic landscape.

As Christians, we are blessed to know God does not withhold wisdom. James 1:5 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” God has provided me wisdom many times, most often through the Bible.

How reassuring that true guidance and purpose are found in God’s Word—the true book of wisdom.

5. Death exchanged for life

Fire is a cherished symbol of Nowruz, representing the warmth and light of Spring that dispels the dark, cold winter. A remarkable fire ritual takes place on “Chaharshanbe Suri” – the last Wednesday before the New Year. At sunset people jump over bonfires in public spaces chanting, “sorkhi-ye to az man, zardi-ye man az to!” meaning “your redness to me, my yellowness to you.” The participant is symbolically exchanging their “yellow” (sickness, weakness, and ill-fortunes) for the fire’s “red” (energy, warmth, life, and purity). Personally, I never felt brave enough to take part!

This performed transaction of deathly pallor traded for life now speaks to me of the swap that Jesus offers us: we give Him our sin, our spiritual death, our sorrows, and in exchange receive His life, His healing, His peace.

How beautiful to know that this is achieved not by us jumping over fire, but by Him walking through the fire for us.

Using some of these bridges, Iranian Christians are preparing to share the Good News with loved ones this Nowruz, despite the risk this carries in Iran, where converting to Christianity is illegal. Would you pray for them?

I hope these bridges also inspire you to start a conversation, share your testimony, or share an encouraging Bible verse with your friend who celebrates Nowruz. May they come to know that cleansing, reconciliation, blessing, wisdom, and life are freely and fully available in Christ.

By Shadi Shahabi