Persian New Year, Nowruz, starts on the
first day of Spring. The exact beginning moment of Nowruz is calculated
precisely every year at the stroke of the vernal equinox, when the sun crosses
the equator. This year it will happen on March 20.
The term Nowruz is a
Persian compound word. The first word “now” means
new and the second word “ruz” means day; together they mean “New Day.” It is a
secular festival that has been celebrated for thousands of years and enjoyed by
people of several different faiths. The traditions of Nowruz were originated in
Iran; however, it has been celebrated among people in Afghanistan, Iraq,
Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, India, Pakistan, Turkey, Canada and the
United States.
Families gather together around a
ceremonial table known as the Haftseen for the countdown and
observing the rituals. In every home, the haftseen table is
decorated with seven items – since seven is considered a lucky number. Each item begins
with the letter sin (s) in Persian, and each item represents a
different symbol:
- Seeb (apple),
representing beauty
- Seer (garlic),
representing good health
- Serkeh (vinegar),
representing patience
- Sonbol (hyacinth),
representing spring
- Samanu (sweet
pudding), representing fertility
- Sabzeh (sprouts),
representing rebirth
- Sekeh (coins),
representing prosperity
Other words beginning with the letter
"s" can also be used, such as the spice sumac, its brilliant gold
color representing the sunrise, or senjed, a dried fruit of the
Lotus tree, representing love.
Haftseen tables can also include a religious
or poetry book (representing Knowledge), a mirror and candles (reflecting into
the future), a goldfish swimming in a bowl (representing life), painted eggs
(representing fertility), and all kinds of sweets and fruits.
Nowruz is also a time for spring
cleaning, buying new clothes, visiting friends and relatives and renewing
bonds. Nowruz festivities lasts 13 days, and during this time schools are
closed, and most offices are closed for the first four days. People attend
different parties, visit their loved ones, relatives and friends, get together
and travel. On the 13th day of the New Year, the celebrations finally end.
Since the 13th is an unlucky day, entire families go on picnics and take with
them the sprouts (sabzeh) from the haftseen table.
The sabzeh is thrown into flowing water, symbolizing a
"letting go" of the misfortunes of the coming year.
The spirit of Nowruz is reflected in the
renewal of the earth, the flower blossoms, the beautiful colors of the spring,
bringing hope and inspiration.
References
Blog by ICSC Co-Leader Haniyeh Zamani
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