PHFAnnouncement:
The Iranian New Year 1397 is named as
“The Year of Iranian Women”
Pasargad Heritage Foundation (PHF), observing its annual tradition, and on the occasion of “Nowruz” – the Iranian festival and celebration of the beginning of the Spring and New Year – has suggested naming the year 1397 (Iranian Calendar) as the “Year of Iranian Women”.
Every year, the selection of a name for the incoming year is enacted within the framework of preservation and guardianship of the tangible and intangible cultural and historical heritage of Iran.
The goal is to attract the attention of people to the unique values of Iranian culture that are based on reason and love – the very values that have greatly been neglected and experienced discrimination and enmity and are now openly exposed to degeneration and destruction.
This year, and upon the following considerations, PHF has named the year of 1397 as “The Year of Iranian Women”
– Iranian women are amongst those women of the world who continuously have guarded the cultural heritage of their homeland.
– For Years the Iranian women have preserved and transferred their national traditions, festivities, as well as their tangible and intangible heritage that are mostly declared forbidden by the current Iranian government to the next generation.
– Regardless of their personal religious beliefs, The Iranian women, whether Zoroastrian, Christian, Jew, Bahai, or Moslem, have played a major role in the transference of the non-religious and secular culture of Iran to the next generation.
– And during this past year, the Iranian women have introduced a rare tactic to obtain their freedom from oppression and compulsory dress-code (wearing hejab). The freedom (of a woman) to dress as she wishes has in fact been a part of ancient Iranian culture that was taken away by the invading Arabs and the imposition of their newly formed faith. The present movement of Iranian women to get back one of their human rights and to revive old Iranian traditions is of utmost significance. All through history, and whenever possible, Iranian women have struggled for their freedom to choose what to wear. They had enjoyed this freedom for 43 years (Between 1314 and 1357) and until the advent of the Islamic revolution. In this regard, their struggle could also be recognized as a cultural endeavor.
Along with naming of the year 1397, PHF would like to wish everyone a very joyous New Year and a happy great and beautiful Nowrooz.
Let us begin the New Iranian Year by appreciating the long and unstoppable struggle of the Iranian women for preserving their culture and gaining their freedom. Let us hope for a year full of happiness, peace and freedom for the people of Iran and the whole world.
Shokooh Mirzadegi
PHF Executive Director
