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In Iran we have been celebrating the beginning of Spring from a very long time. Dates go as far back as history of man (eg:10,000 years).
With the advent of the Spring Equinox in Northern Hemisphere, we all celebrate the main concept of Zoroastrianism, namely the individual's Free Will to choose between two forces that influence our lives.
Unlike what you read most of the time, you should know that Iranians were Cosmologists. Zoroaster believed in logic and saw Man determining his or her own Life according the choice he or she made.
We all have choices to make every day. Life is a market. Yes like a stock market, there are ebbs and flows. Variety and change is all around us, only as an individual can we decide for ourselves what we want.
Now today, Nowrooz is the moment when the Light and Darkness are balanced. It is also connected to all of other Cosmological principles that Iranians knew way back then.
These principles are now referred to as 'Scientific', but they were part and parcel of every day life in Iran. The calendar is named according to constellations. The calendar is the most accurate in the world.
With such concepts the Iranians went about their lives improving their life on Earth. They refuted dogma and there was nothing but Life for them. Questions that were not practical were deemed to be waste.
And so the process of Thinking, followed by Communicating and collaborating, and finally the practical application of that original thought was the most important part of the process. This is a materialistic, or Scientific approach to build and civilize.
A word of caution. There is quite a difference between this form of Zoroastrianism compared to other forms. This form is called Dualistic Zoroastrianism. The most common form is monotheistic Zoroastrianism, because most of the literature was written by younger religions that have concepts like heaven and hell and devils and prophets.
These religions nevertheless found that Zoroaster held to certain 'Ideals' that could be regarded as monotheistic rituals of Zoroastrians which is a continual bone of contention between one branch of Zoroastrianism and another. After all Zoroaster contribution to Zoroastrianism is just one book of the many books that make the Zend-Avesta called the Ghatha. Monotheistic Zoroastrians disregard most of the Zend-Avesta as they believe in Zoroaster and his own teaching. Ironically he is regarded by Semitic religions as the first person to preach monotheism.
Of interest is the idea that most of this thought developed after the birth of Semitic Prophets when Iran was dominated by Islamic Theocracy. Most present day Parsis and Iranian Zoroastrians say that this reform was necessary or be totally wiped out by monotheistic religions.
