In Iran, preparations for the ancient Nowruz festival continue despite widespread anxiety over possible conflict. Traditionally marking the first day of spring, Nowruz is celebrated with new clothes, sweets, and family gatherings. However, this year the usual festive atmosphere is subdued. Markets remain open, but many residents, especially in Tehran, are hesitant to return to the capital after it suffered heavy damage from recent U.S. and Israeli attacks.

A woman from Damavand, northeast of Tehran, described how the season once meant cleaning homes and buying new clothes and sweets, but now each day feels unusually long and uncertain. The 3,000-year-old festival, meaning “new day,” remains one of the world’s oldest cultural celebrations, symbolizing renewal and hope.

Despite fears of war and instability, many Iranians are maintaining the tradition in limited ways, balancing their cultural heritage with the realities of current tensions.