Zoroastrianism is the ancient religion historically associated with the pre-Islamic origins of Nowruz.
Nowruz developed in the cultural world of ancient Iran, where Zoroastrian ideas and seasonal observances shaped the calendar and religious life. The festival’s timing at the spring equinox and its themes of renewal, light, cleanliness, and order fit the wider symbolic world of Iranian traditions.
Modern Nowruz is not limited to Zoroastrians. Muslims, Baháʼís, secular families, and communities with different religious backgrounds celebrate it across many countries. Its customs have changed over centuries while retaining older Iranian elements.
It is also too simple to describe every present-day Nowruz practice as a direct Zoroastrian ritual. The contemporary festival combines ancient Iranian heritage with local, religious, and family traditions that developed in different regions.