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ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Every year, between January and April, nergiz, the white and yellow narcissus flower is in full bloom and available on nearly every street corner across the Kurdistan Region.
While nergiz is abundant in the Region, getting the delicate flowers to market is no easy task.
Erbil province's northern mountainous area of Barzan is home to a myriad of nergiz flowers.
Residents of Barzan’s Alkan village have climbed a nearby mountain to pick the flowers, giving them out as presents to their loved ones.
"I am picking them for my parents because they love this flower. I will give a bouquet to my teacher as a present too. I will bring a bouquet to our school so it spreads an amazing scent," a primary schoolgirl said.
The nergiz, a daffodil, is a symbol of spring and the important Kurdish holiday of Newroz, the Kurdish New Year. The appearance of nergiz in the Kurdish mountains signals that Newroz is around the corner.
Every year, bunches of flowers are sold on the streets and exchanged as gifts among friends for the New Year.
Tahir Salim, a resident of the Alkan village said he and his fellow villagers collectively stay vigilant throughout the flower season to make sure to protect the fields of nergiz and prevent any harm to nature that might be carried out by tourists.
"We and even the children of our village will not accept from anyone to uproot the flowers. I will kindly ask them to leave the area otherwise we will inform the forest police,” Salim said. “I consider the entire Kurdistan my home. Why should I uproot this flower and never let it grow again? Why not protect it? Why pave the way for our markets to be dominated by Iranian and Turkish nergiz flowers?"
Barzan is known for its rich and well-preserved nature and wildlife.
Narmin Ahmed, a flower seller in Alkan said that "The nergiz is always the symbol of love. The nergiz is the symbol of Kurdish nationalism. The nergiz is the symbol of renewal of life, and nature. When the nergiz blossoms, this means all the other plant species will blossom too, and the spring season returns."
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