Google Doodle: Google is celebrating Nowruz 2025, the Persian New Year, with a colorful, festive doodle.
Nowruz, which means “new day” in Persian, marks the beginning of the new year in many cultures and has been observed for over 3,000 years. Originating in ancient Persia (modern-day Iran), it has spread to regions including Central Asia, the Middle East, the Caucasus, South Asia, and even parts of Europe.
Deeply rooted in Zoroastrian traditions, Nowruz symbolises renewal, hope, and the triumph of light over darkness. It’s a time for family gatherings, cultural festivities, and fresh starts.
In recognition of its rich heritage, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) added Nowruz to its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2009, and the United Nations officially observes March 21 as International Nowruz Day.
A central part of the celebration is the haft-sin table, which features seven symbolic items, all beginning with the Persian letter “sin”. These include sprouted wheatgrass (Sabzeh) for rebirth, wheat pudding (Samanu) for strength, dried olives (Senjed) for love, sumac berries (Somāq) for the sunrise, vinegar (Serkeh) for patience, apples (Sib) for beauty, and garlic (Sir) for health.
During Nowruz, people take part in various traditions to welcome a fresh start, such as thoroughly cleaning their homes, painting and decorating eggs, and jumping over bonfires—a ritual, known as Chaharshanbe Suri, thought to clear away the past year’s negative energy and bring strength and renewal.
Who is Pendar Yousefi?
The artist behind this year’s Google Doodle, Pendar Yousefi, is a California-based UX designer who leads the design team at Google Translate. His work focuses on making digital experiences more inclusive by breaking language barriers. Alongside his tech career, he is also a passionate illustrator, printmaker, and storyteller. He recently published his first children’s book.
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