During the Achaemenid era, the festival was celebrated with great splendor at Persepolis, where kings welcomed envoys and received gifts from across their vast empire. In fact, historical evidence suggests that one of Persepolis’ primary functions was to host Nowruz celebrations.

Nowruz, which translates to “new day,” falls on the first day of spring each year, as the Persian calendar follows the vernal equinox. This year, many Iranians, Persians and others who celebrate Nowruz are welcoming the year 1404.

Thursday, March 20, 2025, marks the Persian New Year, or Nowruz, a holiday that's been celebrated for several millenniums, according to the University of Massachusettes. Nowruz, which means “new day” in Persian, is a 3,000-year-old spring festival that is celebrated by millions around the world, according to media outlet Time.