International Day of Nowruz2026 · Date · History · Messages · Quotes
A/RES/64/253
About International Day of Nowruz
International Day of Nowruz is observed on 21 March. The UN General Assembly recognized the annual day through resolution A/RES/64/253 on 23 February 2010.
Nowruz—whose name means “new day”—is an ancient spring and new-year tradition celebrated across many countries and communities. The UN observance emphasizes cultural diversity, peaceful relations, renewal and shared heritage rather than assigning the tradition to a single modern state.
Why International Day of Nowruz matters
Nowruz traditions vary across regions, languages and communities. The UN day provides an international framework for appreciating that diversity while encouraging the preservation and transmission of related customs.
UN sources describe Nowruz as associated with the arrival of spring and the vernal equinox. Activities should therefore avoid presenting one household custom, spelling or national form as the only authentic version.
History of International Day of Nowruz
In 2009, UNESCO inscribed Nowruz on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in a multinational nomination.
Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkey and Turkmenistan sponsored the revised General Assembly draft. On 23 February 2010, the Assembly adopted A/RES/64/253 without a vote and recognized 21 March as the International Day of Nowruz.
On 21 March 2010, the UN Secretary-General described the occasion as the first International Day of Nowruz.
How the observance developed
This timeline uses documented milestones from reviewed sources. Missing stages are left out rather than guessed.
Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkey and Turkmenistan
The UN Digital Library identifies these eight states as the authors of revised draft A/64/L.30/Rev.2; Albania, India and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia were added as sponsors.
United Nations General Assembly
UN General Assembly resolution A/RES/64/253
First documented observance
The UN Secretary-General’s message on 21 March 2010 explicitly describes the occasion as the first International Day of Nowruz.
What the evidence establishes
Confirmed institutional roles and milestones are shown first. Details that could not be established from the reviewed sources are listed separately below.
3 fields not established in reviewed sources
How to Observe International Day of Nowruz
Compare several Nowruz traditions from different countries or communities and identify shared themes as well as local differences.
Build a seasonal timeline showing how the vernal equinox and local calendars relate to the annual celebration without implying that every community observes identical rituals.
Use first-person or community sources when presenting food, music, household or ceremonial customs, and attribute them to the specific tradition described.
Discuss how a long-standing cultural practice can be recognized by UNESCO and the United Nations without becoming owned by either institution.
International Day of Nowruz Facts
The UN observance falls on 21 March.
A/RES/64/253 was adopted on 23 February 2010.
The revised draft was sponsored by Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkey and Turkmenistan; Albania, India and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia were additional sponsors.
The Secretary-General called 21 March 2010 the first International Day of Nowruz.
UN material connects Nowruz with spring and the vernal equinox, while recognizing varied spellings and traditions across countries.
International Day of Nowruz Messages
On International Day of Nowruz, may reflection lead to compassion, humility and thoughtful care for others.
Wishing everyone celebrating Nowruz a joyful new year filled with renewal, peace and time with loved ones.
May the International Day of Nowruz bring communities together through friendship, cultural exchange and hope for a new spring.
May the traditions of Nowruz inspire neighborliness, generosity and respect across cultures.
International Day of Nowruz Quotes
“Across all nations and cultures, let’s walk together as we build a more peaceful, sustainable and inclusive world for all people.”
Topic and context
What this page does not assume
- Keep the source-defined country, community, organizer or institutional scope; do not silently broaden it.
- Do not treat the title alone as proof of government recognition or public-holiday status.
- Do not add a creator, founding story or origin claim unless the supporting evidence establishes it.
- Faith Context Respect.
Evidence & sources
Sources used across the guide are gathered here. Labels show how each source supports the page, and contextual references are kept separate from primary evidence.
United Nations Digital Library — A/64/L.30/Rev.2 (opens in a new tab)
United Nations Digital Library — A/RES/64/253 (opens in a new tab)
UN Secretary-General — first International Day message, 21 March 2010 (opens in a new tab)
un.org — authoritative source (opens in a new tab)
Understand it, compare it, then explore further
Start with the most common factual questions, then compare closely related observances and explore useful connections.
Frequently asked questions
When is International Day of Nowruz?
21 March The documented recurrence rule is: 21 March.
Does International Day of Nowruz fall on the same date every year?
Yes. It uses a fixed annual date unless stronger evidence changes the pattern.
Is International Day of Nowruz an official public holiday?
The reviewed sources verify it within this scope: United Nations-recognized cultural observance. That recognition does not by itself make it a statutory public holiday; the site only makes public-holiday claims when reliable evidence explicitly does so.
Who established or recognizes International Day of Nowruz?
The reviewed sources identify United Nations General Assembly as the proclaiming or establishing body. The proposer or originator is recorded separately as Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkey and Turkmenistan.
Is International Day of Nowruz international or country-specific?
The documented scope is international or global: United Nations-recognized cultural observance. That does not mean every country treats the date as a public holiday or observes it in the same way.
How is this page verified?
The factual information is checked against reviewed sources, including the date pattern, scope and institutional history. This page was checked on 2026-09-05.
When did the UN International Day of Nowruz begin?
The General Assembly recognized the day in February 2010, and the Secretary-General described 21 March 2010 as the first International Day of Nowruz.
Why is International Day of Nowruz on 21 March?
The sponsor text states that Nowruz is celebrated on 21 March, while UN observance material explains its traditional association with the vernal equinox and the arrival of spring.
Is Nowruz only an Iranian observance?
No. The UN resolution and its multinational sponsors reflect a much wider regional heritage, with communities across Central Asia, the Caucasus, the Balkans, the Middle East and other regions maintaining their own forms of Nowruz.
Other observances on March 21
These observances are also listed on March 21, 2027.
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Human Rights Day
The South African Government’s public-holidays page lists Human Rights Day on 21 March.
Independence Day
Namibia government history states that independence occurred on 21 March 1990 and that Independence Day is annually celebrated on March 21; the Public Holidays Act independently lists the s…
International Colour Day
International Colour Association (AIC)
International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
A/RES/2142 (XXI)