 In Iran like every other country, we have many cultural celebrations. One of the most popular one is the spring festival or New Year celebration , called Nowrooz. This celebration always begins on the first day of spring. The year changes on March on 21st in the Iranian calendar. Nowrooz ceremonies are symbolic representations of the end evil and of the rebirth of good. A few weeks before the new year, Iranian people are very busy. They start to clean and arrange their homes. They buy new clothes, and they bake or buy pastries. A few days before New Year, a special table cloth is spread on a table in every Persian household . This table cloth is called sofeh-ye haft seen . On this table, we have to have seven different dishes, each one's Persian name begins with the Persian letter "seen,” like S. The number seven has a special meaning in Iranian culture. The seven dishes stand for the seven angelic heralds of life: rebirth, health, happiness, joy, patience, beauty, and prosperity. 1. The symbolic dishes consist of Sabzeh or sprouts of usually wheat or lentils, representing rebirth. 2. Samanu is pudding made of wheat sprouts which is sweet and creamy. This represents Persian cooking. 3. Sib means apple and represents health and beauty. 4. Senjed is a sweet dry fruit of the lotus tree. It represents love. It has been said that when the lotus tree is in full bloom, its fragrance, and its fruits make people fall in love. 5. Seer is garlic. It represents medicines. 6. Somag means sumac berries. It represents the color of sunrise which means the victory of good over bad (evil). 7. Serkeh or vinegar represents age and patience. There are also other things on the sofreh including two books: the Koran and a book of poems by Hafez, one of the most famous Persian poets of the fourteenth century. A few coins represent wealth. A basket of painted eggs represents fertility. An orange floating in a bowl of water represents the earth floating in the space, and gold fish in another bowl of water represents life and peaceful relationships between men and women. A bottle of rose water known for its magical cleansing power is also on the sofreh. A pot of flowering hyacinth or narcissus is also set on the sofeh. These are the two Persian flowers that bloom in spring. On either side of the mirror are two candelabras holding a candle lit for each child in the family. The candles represent enlightenment and happiness. The mirror represents the image and reflection of the earth creation, which in the Persian traditions took place on the first day of spring Nowrooz. A few hours before the transition to the New Year, all family and friends sit around the sofeh-ye haft seen. Everyone wishes and prays for a prosperous year, and the poems of Hafez and verses of Koran are recited. The new year celebration continues for twelve days. During the first few days, it is the younger members of the family who visit their older relatives and friends in order to show their respects. Sweet pastries and delicious frosty drinks are served to visitors. Children receive gifts. On the thirteen day of Nowrooz, called sizdeh-bedar, all people leave their home and go on a picnic to a cool grassy place. They throw the sprouts into the water. Rice with fresh herbs and fish called sabzi polow ba mahi, is usually served the eve of the New Year day. |