Press TV - People in Iran are on Friday celebrating the start of the Persian New Year, which has since ancient times been set on the Iranian calendar to coincide with the coming of the spring.

Families often get together for the occasion. Some visit the elderly. Others take to public events. And still others choose to spend the moment New Year begins with the tick of the clock at the Holy Shrine of Imam Reza (PBUH) in Mashhad or other sacred sites.

Meanwhile, public entertainers don the costumes of traditional folktale characters Amou Nowruz � literally Uncle New Day � and Haji Firooz � approximately meaning Mr. Jubilant � and hit the streets to bring yet more fun.