​

​

Nusardil is celebrated by Assyrians around the world, it is a unique celebration to Assyrians as it originates out of the lands that once comprised the early Sumerian, Akkadian and then Assyrian empires. The origin of the ceremony stems from celebrations during the summer where statues and path of the chief deity would be ceremonially sprinkled with water as it was carried through the city streets. Watching crowds would also wait to be sprinkled by the King to receive blessings for the summer. It is said that the name “Nusardil” (also called Musardil) comes from the Assyrian words for sprinkle “mar-yis” and god “il (or el)”. When Assyrians adopted Christianity in the 1st-century c.e., the celebration of Nusardil was incorporated as St. Addai (Thaddeus) was sent by St. Thomas the Apostle to baptize the large crowd of Assyrians by sprinkling them with holy water. Nusardil is still celebrated thousands of years later, and we are excited to share it with you today.