The goldfish is one of the symbols of No Ruz, the Iranian New Year, a huge national feast and celebration that dates back to the days of Zoroastrianism and the Persian Empire. The celebrations — affirmations of rebirth, health, and patience — encompass 13 days surrounding the spring equinox. The first day of the festival is a large family get-together and is the most widely celebrated part of the festival. Families clean their houses and buy new clothes for the children. Tables are set with a mirror, a goldfish in a bowl, colored eggs, and seven items whose names begin with “s” in Persian. Religious families put the Qur’an on the table, while more secular families often substitute a collection of the works of Hafiz. Most businesses close and most people do not work. The festivities conclude on the 13th day with a nationwide outing, as most Iranians head out to the countryside on picnics.

Although No Ruz is Zoroastrian in origin, it is the most widely recognized national holiday, celebrated by many of the country’s minorities as well as by its Islamic majority. Initially, the Islamic Revolution tried to stamp out No Ruz festivities, calling them “superstitious” and “anti-Islamic.” But the Iranian people’s will and more than 2,500 years of tradition have prevailed, and the festivities have grown every year since 1979.

CREDIT: Vahid Salemi/Associated Press