50 free Nowruz trivia questions with answers — trivia quiz, new questions added Aug 2026.
This Nowruz trivia quiz covers the Persian New Year from its Zoroastrian roots to the picnic that ends it thirteen days later. It asks what the name means, why the date moves between 19 and 22 March, how Omar Khayyam and Tusi pinned it to the equinox, and what King Jamshid did in the Shahnameh to earn the credit for founding it. From there it goes to Persepolis, the Achaemenid gift ceremonies, the Parthians who kept the festival in autumn and the Taliban ban of the 1990s. The traditions questions cover the whole holiday: the spring cleaning, the seven S items of the Haft-sin table and the goldfish beside it, jumping over bonfires on Chaharshanbe Suri, spoon banging, samanu cooked overnight, sabzi polo with fish, Amu Nowruz and his soot-faced companion Haji Firuz, visiting elders, and throwing the sprouted greens into running water on Sizdah Bedar. Other questions look at Afghanistan's tulip festival and buzkashi, Azerbaijan's four Tuesdays, Kurdish Newroz, Albania's Sultan Nevruz and the 2010 United Nations resolution. Difficulty runs from easy to expert and is shown on every question. Every answer was checked against a reference page and each question carries its citation. Try our Iran and world holidays quizzes next.
30 of 50 questions with answers and explanations. Play the quiz
Q 01What does the Persian word Nowruz literally mean?
New Day
It combines now, meaning new, and ruz, meaning day, and was pronounced Nawrōz in Classical Persian.
Q 02Nowruz is New Year's Day on which system of reckoning the year?
The Iranian solar calendar
It is the first day of Farvardin, the first month of the Solar Hijri calendar used officially in Iran.
Q 03Which astronomical event fixes the date of Nowruz?
The Northern Hemisphere spring equinox
That is why it usually falls somewhere between 19 and 22 March on the Gregorian calendar.
Q 04In which ancient religion do the roots of Nowruz lie?
Zoroastrianism
It has been celebrated for more than 3,000 years and remains a holy day for Zoroastrians, Baháʼís and Ismaili Shia Muslims.
Q 05For roughly how long has Nowruz been celebrated?
Over 3,000 years
Most celebrants now treat it as a secular holiday.
Q 06Which poet-mathematician reformed the Persian year to fix Nowruz at the vernal equinox?
Omar Khayyam
The astronomer Tusi later defined it as the day the sun entered Aries before noon.
Q 07What is the name of the first month of the Solar Hijri calendar, which begins on Nowruz?
Farvardin
Esfand is the last month, and Mehr gives its name to the autumn festival Mehregan.
Q 08If the exact equinox occurs after noon Tehran time, when is Nowruz?
The following day
The rule keeps the algorithmic Solar Hijri calendar more accurate than the Gregorian one.
Q 09In which year did the UN General Assembly recognise the International Day of Nowruz?
2010
Resolution 64/253 passed in February, and UNESCO added Nowruz to its Intangible Cultural Heritage list the same year.
Q 10According to the Shahnameh, which mythical king founded Nowruz by saving mankind from a killer winter?
Jamshid
He built a gem-studded throne, and the world's creatures scattered jewels around him and proclaimed the New Day.
Q 11Which Greek writer left a detailed account of a Nowruz celebration at Persepolis?
Xenophon
Kings of the Achaemenid nations brought gifts to the King of Kings, and Cambyses II's rule over Babylon was legitimised only after he took part.
Q 12Which parts of Persepolis are thought to have been built specifically for a feast related to Nowruz?
The Apadana and the Hundred Columns Hall
Reliefs there show delegations from across the empire bringing tribute.
Q 13Before the Sasanians, in which season did the Parthians celebrate Nowruz?
Autumn
Q 21What is the Haft-sin?
A table of seven items whose names begin with the letter S
The seven relate to the Ameshasepantas of the Zend-Avesta and to the four elements plus humans, animals and plants.
Q 22What is sabzeh on the Haft-sin table?
Sprouted wheat, barley or lentils
It stands for rebirth and is thrown into running water at the end of the holidays.
Q 23What is samanu, one of the seven Haft-sin items?
A pudding of germinated wheat
Under the Parthians the first of Farvardin fell at the autumn equinox and the spring festival was Mehregan.
Q 14How many days do the Nowruz holidays last in Iran?
Thirteen
They end with Sizdah Bedar, when everyone heads outdoors to picnic.
Q 15What is the name of the outdoor picnic festival on the thirteenth day of the Iranian new year?
Sizdah Bedar
It is also called Nature Day, and playing pranks on it resembles April Fools' Day.
Q 16What is traditionally done with the sprouted greens from the Haft-sin table on the thirteenth day?
Thrown into running water
Sizdah Bedar means "thirteen outdoors", and some Iranians consider the number ominous.
Q 17What is the festival held on the eve of the last Wednesday before Nowruz called?
Chaharshanbe Suri
The name means Festive Wednesday, and it is marked with bonfires, firecrackers and fireworks.
Q 18What is the central ritual of the Festive Wednesday celebrated before Nowruz?
Jumping over bonfires
Jumpers ask the fire to take their yellow sickness and give its red strength in return.
Q 19What do disguised Iranians do on Festive Wednesday eve in a custom compared to trick-or-treating?
Bang spoons on bowls door to door
They receive packaged snacks; Azerbaijani children leave caps on doorsteps and hide, waiting for sweets.
Q 20In Azerbaijan, on which weekday are the four pre-Novruz element festivals held?
Tuesday
Each of the four weeks honours one element: water, fire, earth and wind.
Women in Iran, Afghanistan and Central Asia cook it in groups, often through the night, singing as they stir.
Q 24Which of these is one of the seven traditional Haft-sin items?
Garlic
Sir, meaning garlic, sits alongside sib (apple), serke (vinegar), senjed (Persian olive), somāq (sumac), sabze and samanu.
Q 25Which fruit is the Haft-sin item called sib?
Apple
Senjed, the Persian olive, is another of the seven.
Q 26Which live creature is often kept in a bowl on the Haft-sin table?
A goldfish
Mirrors, candles, painted eggs, coins and hyacinths are other common additions.
Q 27Which flowers are especially popular purchases before Nowruz?
Hyacinths and tulips
Preparations also include a thorough spring cleaning of the home and buying new clothes.
Q 28What is the Afghan Nowruz dish Haft Mēwa?
Seven dried fruits and nuts in syrup
Raisins, pistachios, hazelnuts, prunes, walnuts, almonds and silver berry are typical.
Q 29What is Azerbaijan's Nowruz display of sprouting wheat ringed with dyed eggs on a tray called?
Khoncha
There is one dyed egg for each member of the family.
Q 30Which herald of the festival brings children gifts, much like Santa Claus?
Amu Nowruz
Legend says his wife Nane Sarma, Grandma Frost, can meet him only on this one night each year.