Amu Nowruz is the fictional elder traditionally said to visit children at Nowruz in Iranian folklore.
His name means “Uncle Nowruz,” and he is commonly portrayed as an elderly man with white hair who arrives around the spring equinox. In stories, he brings gifts to children, making him comparable in broad cultural function to other seasonal gift-bringing figures.
Amu Nowruz is especially associated with children’s stories, performances, and modern festive imagery. Folklore often pairs him with Naneh Sarma, or “Grandmother Frost,” whose seasonal story helps explain the transition from winter to spring.
Amu Nowruz should not be confused with Haji Firuz. Haji Firuz is the red-clad singing and dancing herald who appears before Nowruz, whereas Amu Nowruz is the elder visitor in the seasonal folklore tradition.