Every year on March 21st, millions of Kurds across the world celebrate Newroz. Newroz is the beginning of the year, or New Years day, for the Kurdish people and has been celebrated since ancient times. The word, “Newroz,” originated from the word “Nû Roj” (as it still referred to in some areas of Kurdistan), which in the Kurdish language means “New Day.” The 21st of March marks the beginning of spring and the start of the year for the Kurds.

While Newroz, or Nû Roj, is often regarded as the New Year holiday for many nations and tribes in the Middle East, the holiday has a much more significant meaning for the Kurdish people. Newroz is a symbol of liberation and a new day celebrating the rebirth of life and nature. Throughout the history of Kurdistan, and up until this very day, the Kurdish people have used the Newroz holiday to celebrate peace and freedom. Kurds see Newroz as a day that signifies the dreams, hopes and aspirations of their nation and many others throughout the world. For the Kurdish people, Newroz is not just a new day but it is a new beginning.

The celebration of the beginning of spring is said to be as old as the ancient Kurdish tribes of Mitanni, which ruled Kurdistan almost 6000 years ago. However, Newroz, or Nû Roj, is believed to have began as a holiday signifying freedom and peace throughout the region when the most famous of the Kurdish ancestors, known as the Medes, were finally freed from hundreds of years of domination by their oppressive rulers. Around 810 BC, several expeditions were taken against Medya or Kurdistan. After a number of revolts by the Medes and Babylonians, their successes led to the fall of the tyranny and the liberation of the people throughout the region. This was the beginning of a great Nû Roj celebration for the Median Kurds, as it was marked a new day and independence for the people. In 545 BC, Nû Roj would be celebrated once again as a day of independence when Cyrus, born to the princess of Medya, would liberate the tribes throughout the region once again from their harsh rulers.

The Legend of Kawa and the beginning of NEWROZ

The legend of Kawa, a Kurdish blacksmith of Medya, is a story passed down by hundreds of generations. Kawa is the Kurdish hero who killed the evil tyrant, Zahak (Dehaq), and freed the people of Kurdistan. Zahak was the evil tyrant who led his empire and reigned in darkness. The story is told that Zahak was a cursed man. His curse was one that he thought he could only cure by pursuing his evil ways. Zahak’s guards would kidnap the innocent children of Medya in the night and feed them to his serpents because he was told that it was the only cure to heal his pains. Everyday, Kawa would pray to get the strength to defeat Zahak and end his evil rule.

On the night before Newroz, Kawa and his followers set fires atop the mountains of Medya or Kurdistan to signal to the people that the day of liberation was near. That night, thousands followed Kawa as he led them to the palace of Zahak. The people surrounded the palace and invaded it in the night. Avoiding the guards, Kawa rushed to the Zahak’s throne and grabbed him by the neck. Kawa struck the tyrant with his hammer and dragged him off his throne and outside the walls of the palace.

With the death of Zahak, the Kurds of Medya were liberated and Kawa proclaimed freedom throughout Medya. In these old times where fire was used as a form of communication, Kawa and his followers again set up a huge fire on the mountaintops of Kurdistan to send a message to the people. This time, the message was to tell all the people that they were finally free from the evil tyrant’s rule, and to send a message of thanks to God for their liberation.

Today, Kurdish people all over the world celebrate Newroz with a blazing fire.