Mr. Speaker, this coming weekend I will be attending celebrations in my riding to mark one of the oldest and most traditional cultural celebrations in human history. I am speaking of Norouz, the Persian New Year.
The Norouz festival celebrates the awakening of natural life and symbolizes the triumph of good over the evil forces of darkness, represented by winter. It is the time when the oppressive presence of the cold winter ends with the commencement of the lively and hopeful spring.
Norouz is a time of renewal, and symbolizes rebirth, awakening, cleanliness and newness. All animosities are put aside to celebrate this event in peace. Many persons from Iran have chosen to make Canada their home and to add their rich ethnic heritage to the cultural mosaic of Canada.
To my friends in the Canadian Persian community in my riding of North Vancouver, and the vibrant Canadian Persian community across the country: “Norouz Mobarak”