Assyrian New Year (Kha b-Nisan) · Kha b-Nisan

Culture of origin: Assyrian · Cultural

Holiday sources: Assyrian · Iran

Kha b-Nisan ("First of Nisan") is the spring New Year of the Assyrians of northern Iraq, northeastern Syria, southeastern Turkey and northwestern Iran, kept on 1 April. It goes back to Akitu, the ancient Mesopotamian festival held at the start of Nisan for the sowing of barley; its modern revival began in the 1960s. People hold parades and parties and wear traditional dress, and girls hang garlands of flowers and herbs, the "beard of Nisan", at the door.