Happy Persian New Year, Happy Spring! Pacific Time Zone -Thursday 09:57:07 AM March 20, 2014 In harmony with the rebirth of nature, a day of rejuvenation and reconciliation, and rebirth the first day of spring season, Persian new year (NowRuz) begins at the Spring vernal equinox, which and has been celebrated throughout nearly three millennia of its recorded history. The Norooz holidays of today span from Charshanbeh Suri (jumping over the bonfire to absorb its reddish healthy strength, while getting rid of ones yellow unhealthy state of being), on the evening preceding the last Wednesday of the old year, climaxing at Norooz, and concluding with Sizdeh Bedar, the thirteenth day of the New Year. With the year coming to an end and another new year approaching (starting March 20 or 21), Iranians are getting their tables ready with the seven articles called Haft Seen that dates back to antiquity practice and is still very much alive. Haft Seen is a traditional table decorated with at least seven or Haft symbolic objects, nutrients or plants beginning with the Persian letter s or Seen. The tablecloth used on the Haft Seen table is made of hand-woven cloth, known as Termeh. The Rumi or Hafez and or a Holy Book of the household is placed on this table. The seven articles consist of: 1- Wheat sprouts pudding (Samanoo); symbolizing affluence 2- Red apples (Seeb); symbolizes health and beauty 3- Sumac spice (Somagh); symbolizing spice of life and (the color of) sunrise 4- Garlic (Seer); believed to chase away evil spirits, and medicine 5- Vinegar (Serkeh); is a symbol of fermentation, having originated as grapes and undergone many transformations. 6-Germinated wheat seeds or lentil (Sabzeh); represent the fertility of the land in Spring. 7- wild olive (Senjed) for its strong sweet aroma symbolizes love Additional items that begin with the letter “s” that are commonly seen on the Sofreh are: Hyacinth flower (Sonbol); symbolizing the rebirth of nature, Coins (Sekeh); represent wealth and hopes for prosperity, (Coins); were used to symbolize prosperity, (Sour oranges) Narenj; represented the earth, (Mirror); for the reflection of life, (Candles); representing the light of life, (painted eggs); symbolizes fertility. Traditional pastries and bread to symbolize a plentiful year. The family gathers around the table at the specific time of Equinox, which varies every year. As they wait, they place a sweet in their mouth and a coin in their hand. At the moment of transition into the new year or Sal Tahvil, family members embrace each other. A traditional meal is served made of steamed rice with herbs served with fish, known as Sabzi Polo Mahi, and elders give gifts (Eydi) basically ” paper money” to younger members. Norouz is a cultural celebration and the very powerful one, imagine, all Iranians from different walks of the life and from every corner of this planet, celebrate Nouroz and embrace the moment of the transition from winter into spring. Although the commemoration of Norooz may have been somewhat modified over time in order to reflect the changing socio-religious landscape and/or to accommodate the infusion of new rituals from other cultures, it has, nevertheless, remained close to every Iranian heart, and as a result will remain for millennia to come. As human beings, living in a modern, technological society, we have a tendency to separate ourselves from the natural world. This disconnection does us a disservice to ourselves and often keeps us from experiencing the deeper essence of who we are. As we begin to embrace ourselves as part of the natural order of things and to work with the constantly changing energies of nature, we have an opportunity to move into greater balance, joy and ease of well-being. I love this aspect of Persian culture because when the new year begins, it really feels like a beginning.
Posted on: Tue, 18 Mar 2014 05:19:12 +0000
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