TEHRAN – Iran’s Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei has said in a message marking the Persian New Year that the country should maintain its cultural traditions while observing a period of national mourning.

At the core of Leader’s words lies a reaffirmation of Nowruz not merely as a cultural ritual, but as a socio-political and spiritual phenomenon that reinforces national unity, resilience, and moral continuity even amid war and loss.

“At present, as a result of the incredible unity created among you, fellow citizens – despite all the differences of religious, intellectual, cultural and political origins – a breakdown is brought about in the enemy,” part of his message reads.

He also highlights the significance of this year’s coincidence of Nowruz with Eid al-Fitr, describing it as a convergence of spiritual and natural renewal.
“This year, the spring of spirit­uality an­­d the spring of nature – i.e., the auspicious Eid-al-Fitr and the age-old Eid of Nowruz – have coincided, and I congratulate each and every one of the people of the nation on these two religious and national holidays.”

Traditionally, Nowruz is marked by rituals such as: setting the Haft-Seen table, visiting relatives and friends (did-o-bazdid), wearing new clothes and celebrating new beginnings, to name a few. 

“And I recommend that the public should have their usual [New Year] visits of these days, of course, while respecting the survivors of the martyrs and respecting their well-being, and perhaps the people of any neighborhood will start their New Year's meetings by honoring the martyrs of the same place, which can be made possible with the necessary coordination.”

Leader underscores that these rituals should continue, even in times of hardship. His encouragement of maintaining “usual New Year visits” signals a broader ideological stance: life must go on, and the social fabric must remain intact despite external pressures and internal grief. The continuation of traditions acts as a form of cultural resistance against the destabilizing effects of war and loss.

Another central theme in the Leader’s message is the coexistence of mourning and celebration. He explicitly acknowledges that this is the first Nowruz without key martyrs, describing the nation’s heart as “a nest of sorrow and grief.” Yet, rather than allowing grief to suspend life’s flow, he proposes a model of integrated commemoration.
“At the same time, for my part and as a simple citizen who has a few martyrs in my circle, I think that while we are mourning and our hearts are a nest of sorrow and grief for all the martyrs…”
This integration operates on several levels:

Emotional duality

“We would become very happy that in these days, our newlywed brides and grooms start their life together. And God willing, the prayers of our martyred leader and other noble martyrs of this war will be with these dear ones.”

The Leader recognizes that joy and sorrow are not mutually exclusive. The image of newlywed couples beginning their lives during Nowruz serves as a powerful metaphor for continuity. Life, he suggests, does not pause for grief; rather, it absorbs and transforms it.

 Respecting the status of martyrs

“This should be considered as a special blessing from the Almighty and Exalted Allah, for which we should be very grateful in words and in heart as well as in action.”
While advocating for the continuation of Nowruz traditions, the Leader places significant emphasis on preserving the dignity and status of martyrs and their families. This is reflected in several key directives: observing the official mourning period declared by the government; showing consideration and sensitivity toward bereaved families; and embedding remembrance within communal activities.

“Of course, the period [of mourning] that the honorable government set for the tragedy of the martyrdom of our dear Leader remains in place, and observing and preserving it is considered an aspect of the greatness of this system and the country.”

This approach suggests that celebration does not devolve into neglect or disrespect. Instead, it becomes contextualized celebration, one that acknowledges sacrifice while affirming life.

The Leader’s message also situates Nowruz within a broader political context. Declaring the year’s slogan as “Resistance Economy in the Shadow of National Unity and National Security,” he links cultural practices to national resilience.

In this context, Nowruz functions as more than a cultural tradition. And, it becomes a strategic asset in maintaining national solidarity. 

AM