Nawrūz – Persian New Year at Villa Borghese

The Persian New Year in the green heart of Rome

When the sun enters the sign of Aries and the spring equinox marks the beginning of the new year, the Italo-Iranian community of Rome gathers at Villa Borghese, in the city's second district, to celebrate Nawrūz (Nowruz), the Persian New Year. This ancient festival, of Zoroastrian origin, still unites approximately three hundred million people across the Middle East and Central Asia today and has been inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity since 2010. In Rome, this ritual is renewed every spring in one of the city's most beloved parks, the green heart of the Lazio region.

At the foot of the Firdusi statue

The location of the gathering is no coincidence: the celebration takes place in Piazzale Firdusi, at the foot of the marble statue dedicated to Firdusi (Ferdowsi), the great Persian national poet and author of the Shāhnāmeh, or Book of Kings. The monument, a gift from the city of Tehran to the city of Rome, stands at the top of the staircase overlooking the National Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art. Gathering before this figure, who represents the language and memory of an entire people, has become a ritual and identity-affirming gesture for the community.

The Haft-Sin table and the symbols of Nawrūz

The symbolic center of the festival is the Haft-Sin table, arranged with seven items whose names begin with the Persian letter "sin," each carrying a wish for the new year:

• Sabzeh — wheat sprouts, a symbol of rebirth;
• Samanu — sweet wheat pudding, a symbol of strength;
• Senjed — jujube fruit, a symbol of love and wisdom;
• Sib — apples, for health;
• Somaq — sumac, for patience;
• Serkeh — vinegar, for maturity;
• Sir — garlic, for remedy and protection.

Alongside these main elements, there are mirrors, candles, decorated eggs, and pots of sprouts, weaving together meanings that speak of life, light, and prosperity.

Poetry, music, and community

Around the table, poetry readings from the verses of Firdusi and Hafez blend with songs and traditional music performed live. It is an inclusive and open event where the Italo-Iranian community shares the celebration with the Afghan and Kurdish communities and with all Romans curious to explore a millenary tradition. Nawrūz thus becomes an opportunity for intercultural encounter and dialogue, where spring serves as a shared symbol of the desire for peace and renewal.

Sizdah Be Dar: the thirteenth day in nature

The celebrations do not end on the day of the equinox. Thirteen days after Nawrūz, Sizdah Be Dar is celebrated—a day dedicated to the deep bond between human beings and nature, traditionally spent outdoors in parks and green spaces. At Villa Borghese, the community gathers once again before the Firdusi statue for a final moment of outdoor sharing, featuring walks, picnics, and the "A Shot with Ferdowsi" photo initiative, which collects participants' images into a virtual album as a testament to solidarity and love for tradition.

A ritual that unites Rome and the East

Coordinated over the years by the Alefba cultural association and supported by the Cultural Institute of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the celebration of Nawrūz at Villa Borghese is now a staple of the Roman spring calendar. In one of the great capitals of the Mediterranean, the Metropolitan City of Rome and the Lazio region host one of the world's oldest festivals, bridging the memory of Persia with the daily life of modern-day Rome.