Assyrians and Chaldeans mark their New Year at the beginning of (Northern hemisphere) spring. It is the most important Assyrian national holiday, and its celebration is one of the many links between ancient and modern Assyrians. During this time, trees and flowers would begin to bloom. As such, the holiday was a symbol of revival—a major theme in ancient Assyrian mythology. Many Assyrians viewed this day each year as the “start of a new life.”