Esfand
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Vernal Equinox has been noted/celebrated for the past +5.000 years. People saw flowers, grass, ... blossom after winter at this time, so of course they associated it with a kind of renewal/rebirth. Also days became longer, more sun... which are important parameters for peasants and tribes. So it doesn't make sense to talk about who the first ones were to celebrate vernal equinox, since most likely everybody did it one way or another (as a minimum they know it occured, but not necessarily the exact time/day).
Regardless, celebrating Nowruz as we see it today are directly Zoroastrian traditions, using fire as a central element (I believe that is also why some religious figures in IR are against it, but it is good to see that people look past that and acknowledge their common heritage). To my knowledge people celebrate it slightly differently, since some Islamic elements were added (originally people used wine on their haftsin tables, but many use vinegar now instead), but I believe both ways of celebration are performed today.
Unlike the Chinese and Islamic calender, the Iranian is indeed solar, see here for a list Solar calendar - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Regardless, celebrating Nowruz as we see it today are directly Zoroastrian traditions, using fire as a central element (I believe that is also why some religious figures in IR are against it, but it is good to see that people look past that and acknowledge their common heritage). To my knowledge people celebrate it slightly differently, since some Islamic elements were added (originally people used wine on their haftsin tables, but many use vinegar now instead), but I believe both ways of celebration are performed today.
I think it's a solar calender not a lunar one.
Unlike the Chinese and Islamic calender, the Iranian is indeed solar, see here for a list Solar calendar - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.