Celebration

“Nowruz” literally means “new day”. In fact, it is the Iranian New Year’s Day which is celebrated by people who speak the Persian language worldwide. This ceremony has been celebrated for over 3,500 years in Iran. Nowruz starts from 21^st of March when the spring season begins, and it is the first day of the first month called Farvardin in the Iranian calendar.

In Iran, “Charshanbe Suri” is the last Wednesday before Nowruz which is usually celebrated in the evening by jumping over bonfires. Spoon banging is a tradition that occurs on Charshanbe Suri, similar to custom of Trick or Treating on the Halloween Day. People in different costumes knock the doors by banging spoons against bowls and receive packaged fruits or snacks.

People start cleaning their homes before the Nowruz and buy new clothes to wear for the New Year. They purchase flowers, particularly hyacinths and tulips. Typically, before the arrival of Nowruz, family members gather around the “Haft-sin” table and wait the exact moment of the New Year. Traditionally, the Haft-sin consists of seven foods each of which begins with the letter of ‘sin’ in Farsi alphabet:

1. Sabze: greenery of wheat, barley, or lentil grown in a dish
2. Samanu: sweet pudding made from wheat sprouts
3. Senjed: Persian olive
4. Serke: Vinegar
5. Sib: Apple
6. Sir: Garlic
7. Sumac: A kind of red-brownish coloured spice

Haft-sin table may also include a mirror, candles, painted eggs, a bowl of water, goldfish, coins, hyacinth, and traditional confectioneries. A book of Quran, Shahname of Ferdowsi, or Divan of Hafez is added as well.

It is noteworthy that each item of Haft-sin is a symbol of something. Sabze is symbol of rebirth. Samanu symbolizes affluence and Senjed symbolizes love. Serke is a symbol of age and patience. Sib symbolizes beauty and health. Sir and Sumac are associated with medicine and the color of sunrise accordingly. Also, hyacinth shows the coming of spring and coins are symbols of prosperity and wealth. Candles indicate enlightenment and happiness, while a mirror depicts self- reflection and introspection. Decorated eggs are symbols of fertility, whereas a goldfish is a symbol of life. Eventually, a bowl of water indicates the earth floating in space.

During the Nowruz holidays, people make short visits to the homes of family, friends and neighbors. Firstly, younger people visit their elders, and the elders return their visit later. Visitors are offered tea, pastries, cookies, fresh and dried fruits and mixed nuts or snacks.

Nowruz holidays in New Year last for thirteen days in Iran. On the thirteenth day, people go outside for picnics and enjoying nature. This ceremony is called “Sizdebedar”. On this day, there is a custom of throwing away the greenery grown for the Haft-sin table into running water. Young singles, especially girls tie the leaves of the greenery before throwing it and make a wish to find a good partner.

Thus, Nawrouz is the most important and probably the most ancient holiday in Iran. There are a lot of national traditions and rituals associated with it, however, the core of the celebrations is universal – hope for a better new life.