Persian-Americans Welcome Spring in Boyds (Video)
Thousands of local Persian-Americans celebrated the arrival of spring in Boyds during the IrAmerican Civic Society’s biggest annual event of the year.
MyMCMedia’s Valerie Bonk has the story of how this time of the year is significant to the Persian-American community.
Mina Rezvani immigrated to the United States from Iran, but she didn’t leave the traditions of her home country behind. She brought them with her to Montgomery County.
“I came to this beautiful country which is my country now in 1984 and the beauty is that American USA everybody form different nationalities they’re allowed to celebrate their own roots and their own culture,” said Mina Rezvani, president of the IrAmerican Civic Society.
The organization focuses on connecting the Persian-American community. The Persian American Festival is their biggest event of the year, bringing thousands to Black Hill Regional Park on the 13th day of the Iranian New Year in order to celebrate and ward away bad luck for the future.
“The number thirteen is considered a bad unlucky number so on the thirteenth day we all gather out here and have fun and kind of forget about the whole number thirteen thing,” said Gaithersburg resident Mehrnaz Mobin.
For these Montgomery County residents, the event gives them an opportunity to celebrate their heritage.
“The government knows in this time of the year to reserve Black Hill for the Iranian community,” said Gaithersburg resident Mansoor Rahmani.
“It’s great because you can relate and you can enjoy it much more versus somebody else who you have to explain things to,” said Rockville resident Armani Golnia.
“It’s nice to be able to do what we could do back home here as well it kind of makes us feel at home,” said Bethesda resident Shabnam Bastansiar. “This is home away from home.”
Find more information about the IrAmerican Civic Society on its website here.
Engage us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Tweets by @mymcmedia