Goldie Ghamari - Speech： Happy Norooz 2578 (2019)

00:00:00.000 Member's Statements, the member for Carleton.

00:00:02.000 Thank you Mr. Speaker.

00:00:03.000 Today marks the first day of spring.

00:00:06.000 However, to millions of Iranians around the world, including myself, today is also Noruz,

00:00:11.000 which translates into New Spring.

00:00:13.000 Noruz originated over 3,000 years ago and is hundreds of years older than the Great Pyramid of Giza.

00:00:19.000 In 2009, Noruz was inscribed on UNESCO's representative list of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity.

00:00:26.000 Humanity, and in 2010, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed March 21 as International

00:00:32.460 Noruz Day.

00:00:34.000 On Noruz, millions of Iranians from around the world in all walks of life, irrespective

00:00:38.400 of religion, age, language, gender, race, ethnicity or social status, gathered together

00:00:44.360 with family, friends and loved ones to celebrate the new year.

00:00:47.760 At its core, this 3,000-year-old celebration marks the rebirth of nature, symbolizing the

00:00:53.340 triumph of good over evil.

00:00:55.460 Noruz represents much of what Iranian character, history, and culture are all about.

00:01:00.740 According to historians, our modern-day Noruz celebrations were solidified during the reign

00:01:05.520 of the Sassanid emperors, starting with Ardashir I.

00:01:09.400 Emperor Ardashir and his descendants formed the last great Persian Empire before the advent

00:01:14.360 of Islam.

00:01:15.640 Noruz is a secular celebration and has other joyful and interesting traditions.

00:01:20.200 To everyone celebrating Noruz in Carleton, Ontario, and around the globe, I wish you

00:01:24.980 all a happy, healthy, and prosperous new year.

Goldie Ghamari - March 20, 2019