The Nowruz holiday, also known as the Persian New Year (Persian: نوروز), is observed as a new year celebration on the day of the vernal equinox. Rooted in Zoroastrianism, an ancient Persian religion that predates both Christianity and Islam, Nowruz is a time of serious spring-cleaning, clearing out the old to make way for the new. It is also a time for feasting, family visits, and meditation.