Press Release

March 21, 2002

For Immediate Release

Contact: Niloofar M. Nouri, (510) 848-0264 The Persian Center

LOCAL BAY AREA CITIES CELEBRATE PERSIAN NEW YEAR 2002

Norouzetan Pirooz! As part of the commemoration of Norouz this year, the Persian Center requested all major Bay Area mayors to recognize March 20 as Persian Heritage Day. Last year twelve cities participated. This year 22 mayors have issued proclamations and letters of support:

Ralph Appezzato, Alameda Shirley Dean, Berkeley Mary Janney, Burlingame Richard Lowenthal, Cupertino Michael Guingona, Daly City Janet Abelson, El Cerrito Karin MacMillan, FairÞeld Gus Morrison, Fremont Thomas W. Springer, Gilroy Roberta Cooper, Hayward David W. Smith, Newark Jerry Brown, Oakland

E. Clark Thompson, Petaluma Peter Murray, Pinole Dick Claire, Redwood City Irma L. Anderson, Richmond Willie Brown, San Francisco Ron Gonzalez, San Jose Gregory L. Carr, San Ramon Judy Nadler, Santa Clara Christopher Krohn, Santa Cruz Mike Martini, Santa Rosa Governor Gray Davis Lieutenant Governor Cruz Bustamonte

This response has been tremendous; this effort helped bridge the gap and create what will hopefully be a growing partnership between a blossoming Bay Area non-profit 501c3) cultural organization and Bay Area city government. The Persian Center plans to carry forth this effort in the coming years while continuing its mission to share and celebrate Persian culture. All of the proclamations are on display at Persian Center.

Norouz 1381 was celebrated with a banquet and entertainment Wednesday night, March 20, at the San Francisco Ritz-Carlton. The festivities were headed by San Farncisco Mayor Willie Brown, Oakland Mayor Jerry Brown and Berkeley Mayor Shirley Dean attended representing the Bay Area mayors honoring the occasion.

Norouz, the most joyous as well as the longest holiday in Iran, is marked by two weeks of ceremony, food, games, parties and open houses for family and neighbors. In the Persian calendar, the new year, which begins on the first day of Spring (the spring equinox), is a planting festival and celebration. Bringing in No Rouz (trans. a "new day") is a pre-islamic tradition for all Iranians when the mythological figure Jamshid Shah rid the land of ignorance, disease, poverty and injustice.

The festivities began at 7 p.m. Tuesday 3/19 on the eve of Norouz with a "Chaharshanbeh Souri" block party on the street in front of the Persian Center at 2029 Durant Avenue in Berkeley. In addition to music and dancing, everyone will had the opportunity to indulge in the traditional jumping-over-fire ritual, symbolic of ridding oneself of an bad luck or demons. The analogy being that the demons would fall into the fire from whence they came thus freeing you of any ill effect. This event was co-sponsored by Anjoman-e Doostan, Club Scorpio, the Iranian Graduate and Alumni Students of UC Berkeley, the Mehr Foundation, the Nahaal Foundation, the Persian Students Association of Stanford, the Iranian American Chamber of Commerce (SF), and the Society of Iranian Professionals.

Wednesday 3/20 the celebration began at 7:30 p.m. at the San Francisco Ritz-Carlton, 600 Stockton at California. It featured a disply by Pasargadae Gallery of their exquisite antique collection of Iranian tribal hand-woven designs, followed by a traditional Persian dinner, cultural performances, and dancing.

The Persian Center is a non-profit, charitable 501(c3) organization whose mission is to create an environment in which to conduct social, cultural, educational, and recreational activities designed to strengthen the sense of identity and integrity of all Iranians and Iranian descendants, and to engage individuals interested in or related to Persian community and culture.