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Nowruz Greetings and Phrases
Because Nowruz is celebrated across so many different countries, languages, and dialects, there are dozens of ways to wish someone a happy new year.
Nowruz Greetings and Phrases
Because Nowruz is celebrated across so many different countries, languages, and dialects, there are dozens of ways to wish someone a happy new year.
Whether you are speaking to an elder, greeting a friend, or sending a text message, here are the most common and culturally significant greetings used during the Nowruz season.
Persian (Farsi) Greetings
In Iran and among the global Persian diaspora, these are the standard phrases used immediately after the clock strikes the new year (Tahvil-e Saal) and throughout the 13-day holiday:
- Eide Shoma Mobarak (عید شما مبارک): The most common and polite phrase, meaning "Happy New Year to you" or literally "May your festival be blessed."
- Nowruz Mobarak (نوروز مبارک): A simple, widely understood "Happy Nowruz."
- Nowruz Pirooz (نوروز پیروز): Meaning "Victorious Nowruz." This is an older, more traditional, and slightly more nationalistic greeting emphasizing the ancient roots of the holiday.
- Sal-e No Mobarak (سال نو مبارک): Literally translates to "Happy New Year."
- Sad Sal Be In Sal-ha (صد سال به این سالها): A joyful phrase meaning "May you have a hundred more years like this one!" It is often said by elders to younger generations.
- Har Roozetan Nowruz, Nowruzetan Pirooz (هر روزتان نوروز، نوروزتان پیروز): A poetic and beautiful wish meaning "May every day of yours be Nowruz, and may your Nowruz be victorious."
Regional and Linguistic Variations
- Kurdish (Kurmanji / Sorani): Newroz Pîroz Be (Happy Newroz) is the standard greeting across Kurdistan.
- Dari (Afghanistan): Nawroz Mubarak is widely used, similar to Iran, but often pronounced with a slightly different cadence.
- Tajik (Tajikistan): Navruz Muborak (Наврӯз муборак) is the standard greeting, written in the Cyrillic alphabet.
- Azerbaijani (Azerbaijan): Novruz Bayramınız Mübarək (Happy Novruz Holiday).
- Uzbek (Uzbekistan): Navroʻz bayramingiz muborak boʻlsin (May your Navruz holiday be blessed).
Etiquette During Visits
When visiting someone's home during the holiday season (a tradition known as Did-o-Bazdid), it is customary to greet the elders of the household first, kissing them on the cheeks (usually three times) and wishing them Eide Shoma Mobarak before greeting the younger members of the family.