Names of contributors have been changed for safety reasons. In the days before the Persian new year festival of Nowruz, Iranians would usually be excitedly preparing. "We'd be busy getting ready … cleaning the house, shopping for new clothes, sweets and snacks," says Mina, a woman in her 50s in Damavand, northeast of Tehran. But this year will be different, she says, in tears. "This year? Every day feels so long. It's like I've lost track of time," Mina says. Nowruz, which translates to "new day", is a traditional festival that marks the spring equinox, the rebirth of nature and the start of the new year in Iran and other countries. The festival dates back more than 3,000 years, making it one of the oldest in the world. It falls on 20 March this year, with the following day marking the start of the Iranian new year. But this year's Nowruz will be the first many in the country have experienced at war. Iran has been under bombardment from US and Israeli strikes since 28 February.…