Iranian Americans Mark Somber Persian New Year Amid Unrest

Celebrations tempered by deadly crackdown on protesters and ongoing regional conflict

Mar. 19, 2026 at 10:18am

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Iranian Americans are marking Nowruz, the Persian New Year, with a mix of somber celebrations and traditional festivities this year. Many communities have canceled or scaled back their usual joyous celebrations following the deadly crackdown on protesters in Iran in January. Others have organized smaller, quieter events to honor the holiday's traditions while acknowledging the pain and suffering of the Iranian people.

Why it matters

The Persian New Year is a time-honored tradition rooted in Zoroastrian culture, celebrated by Iranians of diverse faiths. However, the recent violence and unrest in Iran have cast a pall over the typically festive occasion for Iranian Americans, who are grappling with the trauma and loss experienced by their community. The muted celebrations reflect the complex emotions of this moment, as the diaspora seeks to honor their heritage while standing in solidarity with those facing oppression in Iran.

The details

Instead of her usual house party with a bonfire, Shima Razavi Gacek organized a vigil in a Los Angeles park where photos of slain protesters were displayed, and Iranian Americans lit candles and performed the traditional fire-jumping ritual. Other communities, such as the Long Island Ladies Association in New York and the Orange County Iranian American Chamber of Commerce in California, have canceled their annual Nowruz parties. However, some groups, like the student-run Persian Cultural Society at NYU, have held more somber events with speeches and poetry in place of celebrations. In Nashville, the local Kurdish community is planning an event to show solidarity with people across the war-torn region.

  • The Persian New Year, Nowruz, coincides with the spring equinox and is celebrated annually.
  • The deadly crackdown on protesters in Iran occurred in January 2026, just weeks before Nowruz.

The players

Shima Razavi Gacek

A 46-year-old Los Angeles resident who has lived in the United States since she was 5 years old.

Marjan Khalili

The president of the Long Island Ladies Association, a group of elderly Iranian American women who have canceled their annual Nowruz celebration.

Shani Moslehi

The chief executive of the Orange County Iranian American Chamber of Commerce in Southern California, which has scratched plans for its annual Nowruz party.

Tabeer Taabur

The president of the Tennessee Kurdish Community Council, which is planning a Nowruz event to show solidarity with people across the war-torn region.

Hedi Yousefi

The organizer of a Norooz Bazaar in Manhattan that showcased vendors and artists and displayed a memorial wall listing the names of some 3,000 people killed in January.

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What they’re saying

“It is such a beautiful and joyous time of year. This year, it's not, but we need our community more than ever.”

— Shima Razavi Gacek

“People are not in the mood to celebrate the New Year. That's what Nowruz is — we welcome the New Year, and now we really don't have much to welcome, you know?”

— Marjan Khalili, President of the Long Island Ladies Association

“Everyone I hear from is not doing well. The dancing and singing lasted a day, and people realized just killing that one guy is not going to solve the problem.”

— Shani Moslehi, Chief Executive of the Orange County Iranian American Chamber of Commerce

“They want us to be quiet. They want us to shut up and don't talk and celebrate. But we have to talk about our culture, we have to keep our tradition alive.”

— Hedi Yousefi, Organizer of the Norooz Bazaar in Manhattan

“It's not going to be a grief celebration or a sad celebration.”

— Tabeer Taabur, President of the Tennessee Kurdish Community Council

What’s next

The Tennessee Kurdish Community Council is planning a Nowruz event meant to show solidarity with people across the war-torn region.

The takeaway

This year's muted Nowruz celebrations among Iranian Americans reflect the complex emotions of the diaspora, as they seek to honor their heritage while standing in solidarity with those facing oppression in Iran. The somber tone of the festivities underscores the trauma and loss experienced by the community, even as they strive to keep their traditions alive in the face of adversity.