Amu Nowruz

Amu Nowruz (Persian: عمو نوروز‎, "Uncle Nowruz"), also known as Baba Nowruz (بابا نوروز),[1][2] is a legendary character originating in Iranian folklore. According to the folklore, he appears annually at the beginning of spring, together with his companion Haji Firuz, to mark the beginning of Nowruz, the Iranian New Year. According to some historians he symbolizes Zal, father of Rostam, the hero of Shahnameh.[3]

An actor in the role of Amu Nowruz

On the eve of spring equinox, when the Iranian New Year is celebrated in the Iranian cultural continent from Albania in the West to the west of China in the East, Amu Nowruz brings children gifts, much like his counterpart Santa Claus.[4] He is the husband of Nane Sarma, who shares a traditional love story with him in which they can meet each other only once a year.[5][6]

Amu Nowruz is characterized as an elderly silver-haired man who puts on a felt hat, and has a walking stick, a long cloak of blue canvas, a sash, a pair of thin-soled giveh, and a pair of linen trousers.[7] He is a wise historical presence who passes the old story of Nowruz to the youth. Haji Firuz plays a tambourine, dances, and demands gifts, while Amu Nowruz is the giver.

Amu Nowruz and Nane Sarma

The story of Amu Nowruz and Nena Sarma is one of the symbolic legends of the transition from the old year to the new year.

An old man called Amu Nowruz or Uncle Nowruz visits an old woman named Nena Sarma, who is considered to be the wife of Amu Nowruz. According to legends, Nane Sarma, during the year, only on this night can see Amu Nowruz. After this night, the cold grandmother leaves Amu Nowruz and goes on her way so that next year the two will meet again on the same night.

Another retelling of this story says that on the first day of spring every year, Nane Sarma expects Uncle Nowruz to come and visit her; But before he comes, she falls asleep from exhaustion and after waking up, she realizes that Uncle Nowruz has come and gone. It has also been said that if the two see each other, the world will be destroyed.


See also

References
  1. هفت سین، حاجی فیروز، بابا نوروز، ننه سرما و .. درگفتگو با جلال‌الدین کزازی. Mir Jalaleddin Kazzazi. March 22, 2012.
  2. نگاهی به حضور عمو نوروز و ننه سرما در ادبیات فارسی. Serat News. March 26, 2013.
  3. Iran’s national doll Amu Nowruz unveiled Archived 2016-03-19 at the Wayback Machine, 16 March 2011
  4. "Haji Firooz & Amoo Norooz - The Persian Troubadour & Santa Claus". PersianMirror Article. 15 November 2004. Archived from the original on 2010-02-25. Retrieved 3 March 2010.
  5. Thus Speaks Mother Simorq, Page 151
  6. Iranica: Pir-e Zan
  7. Amu Nowruz Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine, Fazlollah Mohtadi, Shiraz University Centre for Children's Literature Studies
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