Persian folktale: Amu Noruz and Naneh Sarma

Young journalists club

News ID: 6459
Iran » Iran
Publish Date: 0:52 - 28 February 2015
Noruz, the Iranian New Year Celebration, is one of the most ancient Iranian traditions. There are some folk tales associated with this event including the love story of Amoo Noruz and Naneh Sarma.

Amoo Noruz, which literally means "Uncle New Year”, is a kind old man who is the messenger of the New Year and spring. He brings children gifts and tells them the old story of Noruz.  
 
Naneh Sarma, which means "Lady of the Cold Spells” or "Grandma Frost”, is another character representing winter.
 
Each year, on the first day of spring, Naneh Sarma cleans her home, dresses up and sets up her haft-sin, waiting for Amoo Noruz.
 
But she falls asleep while Amoo Noruz shows up. He drinks some tea and leaves her a marigold flower and disappears without waking her up.
 
So she should wait one more year until next spring to see him again. 
 
Some people believe that if these two meet each other, an apocalypse will happen.
 

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