When talking about the Middle East, what immediately springs to mind is the continuous strife that exists within these countries. There is an enduring impression that Middle Eastern people are under continual turmoil and oppression, whether by their own government or through the influence of Western states. That these countries are dangerous, backwards, occupied by terrorists and under constant threats of war. It is a narrative that the media perpetuates, but beyond that it is important to remember the historical heritage of the Middle East, and to realise that there lies much more to these cultures than what Western narratives permit.
We should remember that the centre of Asia was where empires were built. The Middle East provided the basis for civilisation itself—it was the land of fame and fortune. Baghdad, Damascus, Nīshāpūr, Samarkand, Kabul were thriving metropolises, connecting Asia to the rest of the world. Europeans were depicted as naked and hungry barbarians back then; today they guide the rest of the world through a coloniser’s instinct. We should remember that there remains in the Middle East an enduring strength and resilience. Their cultures ought to be celebrated, not ignored.
Today the subject that brings to mind is Newroz, a fertility festival, believed to be one of the oldest festivals in the world. The International Day of Newroz is usually celebrated on the 21st of March, connected with the Spring Equinox. Among the many ethnic groups that celebrate Newroz are the Kurds, who see Newroz as a celebration of Kurdish national identity.
The Kurdish people are the largest ethnicity in the world that does not have a national state of their own. With a total population of 50 million, the Kurdish population is scattered across the globe, with a large concentration of global Kurds living in the mountains between Iraq, Iran and Turkey. The Kurds have faced centuries of political repression and economic deprivation, annexed by oppressive Arab regimes and callous rulers. Unfortunately, their story is seldom acknowledged in the West. I was lucky to learn about Kurdistan and their immensely rich culture through my friend, and to attend Newroz, also known as Kurdish National Day.
Newroz is described as the day when the sun begins to regain strength and overcome winter’s cold darkness. The Kurdish calendar year is widely believed to have originated when the Medians, let by the mythological figure of Kawa, overthrew Zahhak, a despotic Assyrian ruler. To signal their victory, Kawa lit the hills on fire, ushering in a time of freedom, and creating the Kurds.
Today Newroz is widely considered a festival of resistance, associated with the attempts to express and resurrect the Kurdish identity, in which the Kurds call for the freedom of their political leader, and a peaceful solution to the Kurdish Question.
This event was hosted at the Kurdish Community Centre. More than a hundred people gathered there in the open, surrounded by trees and bathed in sunlight. Men, women and children shaped a radiant crowd—women dressed in traditional costumes, men in handsome attires, kids running around, playing games. As the music started everyone danced in a circle, hand in hand, rhythmically moving to the melodies of traditional Kurdish instruments. A fire was lit in the evening, symbolising the passing of winter. The day was filled with joy and tranquility. Seeing all the Kurds come together, dressed in their best clothes and dancing to their music, there was a magnetism and charm in these people, a sense of community that is rarely experienced in Western countries.
That day I left with an immense appreciation for the Kurds’ culture and their inclusivity. Despite everything these people have been through, still they face the ruthless tide that is called Life fearlessly and passionately, telling us that a nation’s story shouldn’t be remembered in their sorrow and pain, but rather in their ability to rise up and live.
“NEWROZ” by Kurdistan Photo كوردستان is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
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Celebrating Newroz and Kurdish Resistance
When talking about the Middle East, what immediately springs to mind is the continuous strife that exists within these countries. There is an enduring impression that Middle Eastern people are under continual turmoil and oppression, whether by their own government or through the influence of Western states. That these countries are dangerous, backwards, occupied by terrorists and under constant threats of war. It is a narrative that the media perpetuates, but beyond that it is important to remember the historical heritage of the Middle East, and to realise that there lies much more to these cultures than what Western narratives permit.
We should remember that the centre of Asia was where empires were built. The Middle East provided the basis for civilisation itself—it was the land of fame and fortune. Baghdad, Damascus, Nīshāpūr, Samarkand, Kabul were thriving metropolises, connecting Asia to the rest of the world. Europeans were depicted as naked and hungry barbarians back then; today they guide the rest of the world through a coloniser’s instinct. We should remember that there remains in the Middle East an enduring strength and resilience. Their cultures ought to be celebrated, not ignored.
Today the subject that brings to mind is Newroz, a fertility festival, believed to be one of the oldest festivals in the world. The International Day of Newroz is usually celebrated on the 21st of March, connected with the Spring Equinox. Among the many ethnic groups that celebrate Newroz are the Kurds, who see Newroz as a celebration of Kurdish national identity.
The Kurdish people are the largest ethnicity in the world that does not have a national state of their own. With a total population of 50 million, the Kurdish population is scattered across the globe, with a large concentration of global Kurds living in the mountains between Iraq, Iran and Turkey. The Kurds have faced centuries of political repression and economic deprivation, annexed by oppressive Arab regimes and callous rulers. Unfortunately, their story is seldom acknowledged in the West. I was lucky to learn about Kurdistan and their immensely rich culture through my friend, and to attend Newroz, also known as Kurdish National Day.
Newroz is described as the day when the sun begins to regain strength and overcome winter’s cold darkness. The Kurdish calendar year is widely believed to have originated when the Medians, let by the mythological figure of Kawa, overthrew Zahhak, a despotic Assyrian ruler. To signal their victory, Kawa lit the hills on fire, ushering in a time of freedom, and creating the Kurds.
Today Newroz is widely considered a festival of resistance, associated with the attempts to express and resurrect the Kurdish identity, in which the Kurds call for the freedom of their political leader, and a peaceful solution to the Kurdish Question.
This event was hosted at the Kurdish Community Centre. More than a hundred people gathered there in the open, surrounded by trees and bathed in sunlight. Men, women and children shaped a radiant crowd—women dressed in traditional costumes, men in handsome attires, kids running around, playing games. As the music started everyone danced in a circle, hand in hand, rhythmically moving to the melodies of traditional Kurdish instruments. A fire was lit in the evening, symbolising the passing of winter. The day was filled with joy and tranquility. Seeing all the Kurds come together, dressed in their best clothes and dancing to their music, there was a magnetism and charm in these people, a sense of community that is rarely experienced in Western countries.
That day I left with an immense appreciation for the Kurds’ culture and their inclusivity. Despite everything these people have been through, still they face the ruthless tide that is called Life fearlessly and passionately, telling us that a nation’s story shouldn’t be remembered in their sorrow and pain, but rather in their ability to rise up and live.
“NEWROZ” by Kurdistan Photo كوردستان is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
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