The ancient tradition of Nowruz, the Persian New Year and the rebirth of nature is observed in the Balkans, the Black Sea Basin, the Caucasus, Central Asia and the Middle East. Nowruz is celebrated in Greater Iran, Caucasus, and Central Asia and by Iranians worldwide. It is a public holiday in Iran, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. Iranians living in Southern California go to the beaches to celebrate the event where it is permissible to build fires.

The UN General Assembly in February, recognized occasion Nowruz or the Persian New Year as a global day of celebration, and the United Nation Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon issued a message marking the first International Day of Nowruz.