rebirth of spring

Nowruz marks the start of spring and is celebrated in many parts of the world, but in Iran, the whole country takes a break and joins in the New Year festivities.

About ten years ago, on one Nowruz day, I was walking around empty streets looking for something to photograph.
I pulled out my camera to take pictures of some historical buildings in Tehran when I came across these amazing giant puppets.

It was a smart idea by the Tehran city government to create unusual and fun attractions for the people and to surprise visitors.
These high-quality and stunning art pieces on the streets are a real treat!This entertaining and eye-catching performance is guaranteed to make the hearts of thousands of people happy, as they have really embraced this idea.

Like other traditional holidays, Nowruz is connected to old festivals.
Similar to Santa Claus, there is a beloved guest in Iranian stories called Amu Nowruz, meaning "Uncle Nowruz." He is an old man with a white beard, wearing a cap and a long coat, who appears in people’s dreams every year as a sign of spring.The story of Amu Nowruz is a story of eternal love.It is said that he travels around the world each year searching for his beloved Naneh Sarma, meaning "Grandmother Frost," in order to meet her during the shortest time of the year.When winter comes, she disappears again, and he is left to continue his journey alone.Amu Nowruz represents the end of the long, cold winter, while Naneh Sarma stands for the endless cold nights.