The Persian New Year which is celebrated on the 21st of March coincides with the first day of Spring. It’s a lovely time to visit Iran as the weather is mild and the spring flowers are ablaze.
I am not Iranian, but I’m married to one, so I know a tiny little bit of Persian Culture. Everything I’ve written here, are my impressions from interacting with Persians I know and from my visits to Iran. If there is any mistake, I apologize in advance and I mean no offence. Let’s just say it got lost in the translation.
A day of feasting…
Traditionally, Nowroz ”New Day” is a big family occasion complete with a big meal. Most definitely, there would be a display table called Haft-Seen, which is an arrangement of seven(haft)items all of which starts with the letter S (seen). It is said to bring good luck in the year ahead, which is a concept in Persian Culture. Most of the time, it’s just a humble display by the window but I’ve seen elaborate ones in homes and in the shopping centres. Regardless, this calls for a photo opportunity with the Haft-Seen display in the background; I’ve had a few.
Nowruz is a day of feasting for sure, with lots of food involved. In the Persian Prince’s family in Iran, the star of the show is herb rice called ”Sabzi Polo” and Crispy Skin Turmeric Fish. This is served with familiar sides of Cucumber Yoghurt, various types of torshi pickles and some type of Jelly for dessert. Sabzi Polo is a favourite at ours and I cook it often, not just for Persian New Year.
Haft Seen 101 or Beginners Guide to the Seven S..
- Sib – Apple for Health & Beauty
- Sabzi – Sprouted Greens as a symbol of growth and renewal usually wheat grass or cress. This is supposed to absorb all the pain and suffering of the household.
- Seer – Garlic is for good health.
- Sumac – Symbolizes sunrise or a new day due to it’s vivid colour. Sumac is a type of red berry spice which is used extensively in Persian cooking.
- Serkeh – Vinegar is a symbol for wisdom of the ages. This used to be wine, but with the prohibition of alcohol, it’s now substituted with vinegar.
- Samanu– Sweet soft pudding made of wheat sprout symbolising wealth and fertility
- Senjed – Dried fruit preferably jujubes for love.
In addition to the main items above, the following can also be found:
- Mirror – For reflecting on the past years
- Candles – Guiding light for the year ahead
- Coins – Wealth & Prosperity
- Eggs – Signify fertility
- Clock – Awareness of Time
- Honey – Appreciation of the Sweet Things in Life
- Goldfish – Progress
- Fresh Spring Flowers – Usually hyacinth or tulips
- Book of Knowledge – Can be the Holy Book Koran or a book of Poetry by Hafiz or Omar Khayam
It is no coincidence that a lot of the symbols are common across other cultures. Fox example, Eggs as a symbol of fertility as in the West during Easter..
Didani..
One of the sweetest Persian customs is didani, which is visiting relations and friends during nowruz. Guests would be offered sweets nuts and endless cups of teas. Plates upon plates would be piled high with pastries and cookies and more sweets to take home. I felt right at home, as we have a similar custom of bringing food home back in the Philippines!
On the 13th day (Sisdeh Bedar)…
The New Years celebrations concludes on the 13th day called Sisdeh Bedar, where families and friends gather together outside for a picnic and you guessed it with more food. Picnic fare like kebab and kuku sabzi (Persian Herb Cake) are laid out in a colourful picnic blanket called sofreh. Nearby a samovar of tea would be bubbling away, to be consumed all throughout the day with sweets and the ever present nuts. Follow the trail of the nutshells and you’ll find a Persian.
This is a time to let go of all the negativity and embrace the New Year and which signify a return to normal routine after all the festivities. At the end of the picnic, you throw away the sabzi from the Haft Seen table ,thereby getting rid of all the bad luck, ill and suffering that had been collected by the sabzi. If it was only that simple…the world would be a better place!
