Iranian New Year celebrations impacted by COVID-19
Gisoo Misha Ahmadi
Press TV, Tehran
New Year celebrations in Iran are kept low-key as people avoid gatherings. Public events across the country have also been cancelled and most Iranians are practicing social distancing as measures to fight the new coronavirus.
The Iranian New Year also known as Nowruz, is usually a time when families get together across the country to celebrate the arrival of spring. Traditionally this means shopping for new clothes as well as fruits and nuts and flowers along with the annual spring cleaning and redecorating the home and expecting lots and lots of company.
But this year roll-down shutters have closed most shops and those who are still open carefully take cash or debit cards from worried shoppers wearing face masks out of the fear of the new coronavirus.
This year the arrival of spring is obviously low-key as all public celebrations have been canceled and even holy shrines where many would like to be at the turn of the year are closed and many Iranians including students are practicing social distancing. Schools have been closed for more than a month now, and it is still not clear when they will reopen.
Most schools are offering online courses which are actually more serious than what one would expect with plenty of homework and even pop quizzes now and then.
In the meantime, housewives have seen a big change in their routine.
This means that a very crucial Nowruz tradition called did-o-bazdid which means visiting one another, will not be observed and this is how Iranians will be celebrating the Persian Year 1399.
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