5 Facts about the Month of Nīsān Every Assyrian Should Know
Pictured: Jennifer Shahin, an Indigenous Assyrian, dressed in the traditional garments commonly worn by the Assyrian tribes in the region of Bohtān.
1. It is the First Month of the Year
Nīsān is the Syriac name for the first month of the Assyrian calendar, corresponding to the month of April and thus, marking the beginning of the year. The first day of the month is commonly known by the term Ḵa b-Nīsān “1 April” or Rēsh-Shētā— a combination of the words rēsh “head” and shētā “year”, literally meaning “head of the year” or “New Year”.
2. It is the Month of the New Year Festival
The New Year is a spring festival that is held annually in the countries that constitute the Traditional Homelands of the Indigenous Assyrians as well as the Assyrian Diaspora. Though today, this festival is a largely secular rite; it is often associated with and influenced by earlier traditions, in which it was considered a religious holiday by the ancients.
The New Year Festival plays an important role in not only maintaining indigenous identity but also serves as an element for political, economic, social, and most importantly cultural development. Communal festivities include cultural celebrations, musical performances, and poetry.
3. It is a Month that Symbolises Cultural Continuity
For Indigenous Assyrians, 1 April is associated with a variety of rituals and traditional practices, developed, and passed down from one generation to another. Although such practices have changed over the course of two millennia— “rebirth” and “renewal” remain the unifying theme.
In the leadup to 1 April, Assyrians commonly display a red handkerchief as a decorative placement above their household’s door to mark the beginning of spring. It is also customary for households to prepare a table display featuring seven bowls, each containing seven types of nuts and seeds: almonds, cashews, chickpeas, pistachios, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, and walnuts.
Another equally significant tradition is for households to display the first flowers or herbs of the season in a vase— commonly known as Daqnā d-Nīsān —literally meaning “Nīsān’s beard”. In remote villages or mountainous districts, Assyrian communities congregate at the fields before sunrise to smear their face with the first ṭala “dew” of Nīsān as a symbolic gesture.
4. It is a Month of Superstition
According to Indigenous Assyrian folklore, the month of Nīsān is considered an especially unlucky time to marry. Nīsān, according to superstition, “does not accept brides, as she is the most beautiful bride of all”.
This superstition, however, may have been introduced to discourage individuals from marrying during the harvest month. In fact, the month of Nīsān is an incredibly significant time for agricultural farming in Assyria.
5. It is Also a Name
The name Nīsān is a common name among Indigenous Assyrians, with Nīsānēh being the feminine form.
