Noruz Edition | 5 Persian things this spring
My favorite discoveries from my recent Persian language and culture immersion
So, for me the real new year is about to start: at 11:06pm ET next Tuesday March 19th, the first day of spring.
In honor of Noruz, which in Persian means “new day,” today I want to share some of my favorite discoveries related to Persian culture recently. I hope they help you appreciate, understand and celebrate with the Persian people in your life this spring.
My favorite Persian language resource
Leyla Shams’ learning community, Chai and Conversation, is an incredible destination for all things Persian language and culture. I did her bootcamp last summer and loved practicing the beautiful and luxurious sounds of Persian with half-Iranians and Persian culture enthusiasts from all over the world. Her podcast has connected me with so many gems. And if you’ve ever wondered about the Persian custom of taarof, this breaks it down!
A Persian rapper I can’t get over
On recommendation from a Persian bootcamp peer, I discovered Yas, and I’m blown away by the potency and poetry of his work. My favorite piece is Hamechi Dorost Mishe, an explosive cri de cœur and conversation with God simultaneously. The title means “everything will be put right again” — it feels good to hear that.
A letter to inspire the change Iran needs
2023 Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi wrote this letter to the UN and the international community from Evin Prison where she has been detained for years. She outlines how the Islamic Republic of Iran systematically denies women’s human rights and calls for the criminalization of gender apartheid. The name Narges means narcissus; I will think of her and her work whenever I these spring flowers, and seek ways to amplify it.
A book on the experience of women in Iran
I was riveted by Haleh Esfandiari’s Reconstructed Lives: Women and Iran's Islamic Revolution, which brings to life the experience of being a woman in Iran through accounts from diverse women she interviewed. It was chilling to learn how quickly womens’ rights were eroded when the theocracy took control of the government.
A garden where toddlers learn Farsi
Even though it’s far away from me, it was thrilling to discover the existence of Golestan, an early childhood paradise in Northern California, and the work they do collaborating with educators to build outstanding child-centric environments. If you speak Farsi, you will fall in love with this video of kids explaining Noruz.
May the new year bring you and your loved ones blessings, may you embrace the sensuality and wildness of spring, and may we find ways to turn this world into a garden together.
