Nawroz - Kurdish New Year

Trip Start Sep 08, 2010
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Trip End May 09, 2011


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Flag of Iraq  , Arbīl,
Monday, March 22, 2010

March 21 is a day for celebrating the Kurdish New Year or the first day of spring.  It celebrates the death of an evil king in 617 b.c.  The king had a birth defect of two snakes growing out of his shoulders that needed children's brains for nourishment!  He was killed with a hammer by a father who had sacrificed too many children.  A bonfire was lit on the mountain to let the villagers below know the good news about the evil king's death. 

Nawroz is celebrated each year to celebrate the release of oppression of many kinds.  It was not allowed during Saddam Hussein's rule.

Family picnics, kites, and of course, bonfires were prevelant up both sides of the road just outside school.  Lisa, a fellow teacher had returned from a walk to buy some kites with an invitation to join a Kurdish family in their picnic
tea?
tea?
.  We put on our Kurdish outfits and met with a very pleasant family and joined them for their picnic of dolma, rice and tea and dancing!  The children were glorious and everyone happy to be outdoors celebrating. We went back to school to relax and nap.
 
After the sun had set we again set  out in the opposite direction to see what bonfires we could see.  We were again invited by a different large family to join their celebration and fire.  A very large family with grandparents and 8 adult children, lots of grandchildren and husbands and wives.  Everyone joined in the dancing from the old to the young.

Such generosity and hospitality is part of the Kurdish personality.  Wonderful
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