The British Council is delighted to share with you this educational resource pack for schools. This pack has been designed for use in schools to support teachers and students in cultural and social education around ‘Nowruz’ – the New Year festival which is celebrated across large parts of the world, from China to North Africa.
Nowruz, which originated in Persia and is the major annual cultural festival in Iran and in surrounding countries, is a thirteen day celebration observed by many countries and communities around the world, including in the UK. It begins on the first day of spring, and in 2017, people all over the world celebrated Nowruz on 20 March. The build-up starts a week beforehand and it is celebrated for up to two weeks after the start of the New Year. This means that it would be suitable to use these materials throughout the second half of March to share knowledge and understanding of this festival.
Whether you use the resource pack or not, the British Council Iran Team would be very grateful if you could complete this short survey.
International Nowruz Day was proclaimed by the UN, demonstrating the global importance of this ceremony which holds a central place in the homes and communities of many people around the world. Communities who practice Nowruz live in Iran, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq and throughout Central Asia, as well as in the UK, Europe, the USA and through diaspora communities internationally. Nowruz celebrations vary widely but they often focus on rebirth, renewal, new beginnings, spending time with family and friends and celebrating spring in the outdoors.
Nowruz is an opportunity for children in the UK to learn more about the people and culture of a part of the world around which there is much misunderstanding. This educational pack is a key part of the British Council’s work which aims to celebrate the cultural connections between the UK and the Islamic Republic of Iran.