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Tahvil-e Saal
Unlike many other calendars (like the Gregorian calendar) where the new year begins at the stroke of midnight, the Iranian New Year begins at the precise moment...
Tahvil-e Saal
Tahvil-e Saal (Persian: تØویل سال) translates literally to "the turning of the year." It is the exact astronomical moment when the old year ends and the new year begins in the Iranian calendar.
Unlike many other calendars (like the Gregorian calendar) where the new year begins at the stroke of midnight, the Iranian New Year begins at the precise moment of the vernal equinox.
The Astronomy of Tahvil-e Saal
The vernal equinox occurs when the Sun crosses the celestial equator going from south to north. At this exact moment, the earth's axis is tilted neither toward nor away from the sun, meaning that day and night are of approximately equal length everywhere on the planet.
Because it is based on a specific astronomical event, the time of Tahvil-e Saal changes every year. It can occur at any time of the day or night. Depending on the year and your time zone, the new year might begin at 6:00 AM, 2:34 PM, or 11:15 PM.
The Iranian calendar (the Solar Hijri calendar) is considered one of the most accurate calendar systems in the world precisely because it recalculates the start of the year based on this exact astronomical observation rather than mathematical rules.
Traditions During the Turning of the Year
The moments leading up to Tahvil-e Saal are filled with anticipation. Families clean themselves, put on brand new clothes, and gather around the Haft-Sin table.
As they wait for the exact moment of the equinox—which is broadcast on national television, radio, and online—families engage in several traditions:
- Reading Poetry: It is common to read aloud from the Divan of Hafez, a beloved Persian poet, seeking omens or wisdom for the coming year.
- Holding Coins or Sweets: Some people hold a coin for wealth, or place a sweet in their mouths right as the year turns to ensure a sweet year.
- The Announcement: At the exact moment of the equinox, a traditional cannon is fired on television, followed by the playing of traditional music.
- Embracing and Eidi: Immediately after the year changes, family members hug and kiss each other, wishing each other Eide Shoma Mobarak (Happy New Year). The elders of the family then distribute Eidi—usually crisp, new banknotes tucked inside a holy book or a book of poetry—to the younger members of the family.