New Year Traditions in Southern Khorassan

To set up special customs and ceremonies is one of the longlasting indicators of each ethnic recognition, running through the life of a nation, transmitted from one generation to another, and reflecting the ideas, beliefs and perceptions of the very people in a colorful picturesque scene. Now-rouz is one of the most ancient and widely-recognized traditions of Iranians who have constantly tried to respect and to celebrate it with special customs. The observance of this public celebration in different areas of Iran has its own particular local color. It has been tried in this paper to review various celebrations of the tradition in towns and villages of Southern Khorassan. The methodology of the research has been field study through interviews, direct witnessing and memoirs rewriting of about 100 school faculties in different parts of Southern Khorassan, which has considered the beliefs and ceremonies relating to the beginning of New Year, and afterwards traditions in four separate sections.