Nowruz: New Year's Day and Letter S. Literally
How much do you know about Nowruz? Nothing! So let me say about it. :)
Nowruz (new day, نوروز) is the most important holiday in Iran which has been celebrated for over 3000 years!
Nowruz is my favorite holiday because it's maybe the only time during the year that all the members of the families get together and have fun. Also it's the longest holiday in a year. On the first day of the New Year, which usually happens on 20 or 21 March each year, older people usually give a gift to the younger ones. (^__^)
Haft Sin (هفت سین) is a major traditional table setting of Nowruz. Haft is the Persian word for the number seven and sin is the Persian word for the letter S. Literally, the haft-seen table means a “table of seven things” that start with the letter ‘S’. The Haft Sin items are:
-Sabzeh (سبزه, sprouted wheat grass) symbolizing rebirth and renewal of nature
-Samanu (سمنو, a sweet pudding made from wheat germ) symbolizing affluence and the sweetness of life
-Senjed (سنجد, the dried fruit of the oleaster tree) symbolizing love
-Sir (سیر, garlic) symbolizing medicine
-Sib (سیب, apples) symbolizing beauty and health
-Somaq (سماق, sumac berries) symbolizing (the color of) sunrise and the spice of life
-Serkeh (سرکه, vinegar) symbolizing age and patience.
When the New Year is just minutes away families and friends gather together and wait for “Tahvil” to occur. Right after the moment of Nowruz, the family exchanges well wishes such as “Happy New Year” or “Sal-e No Mobarak!,سال نو مبارک” in Persian. Next, the eldest in the family distributes special sweets and candies to everyone, and young children are given coins as presents. It is also traditional for families and neighbors to visit each other and exchange special gifts. The haft-seen table remains in the family home for thirteen days after the beginning of Nowruz. The thirteenth day is called “Sizdeh Bedar”, which literally means in Persian “getting rid of the thirteenth.” This is a day of festivity in
Nowruz (new day, نوروز) is the most important holiday in Iran which has been celebrated for over 3000 years!
Nowruz is my favorite holiday because it's maybe the only time during the year that all the members of the families get together and have fun. Also it's the longest holiday in a year. On the first day of the New Year, which usually happens on 20 or 21 March each year, older people usually give a gift to the younger ones. (^__^)
Haft Sin (هفت سین) is a major traditional table setting of Nowruz. Haft is the Persian word for the number seven and sin is the Persian word for the letter S. Literally, the haft-seen table means a “table of seven things” that start with the letter ‘S’. The Haft Sin items are:
-Sabzeh (سبزه, sprouted wheat grass) symbolizing rebirth and renewal of nature
-Samanu (سمنو, a sweet pudding made from wheat germ) symbolizing affluence and the sweetness of life
-Senjed (سنجد, the dried fruit of the oleaster tree) symbolizing love
-Sir (سیر, garlic) symbolizing medicine
-Sib (سیب, apples) symbolizing beauty and health
-Somaq (سماق, sumac berries) symbolizing (the color of) sunrise and the spice of life
-Serkeh (سرکه, vinegar) symbolizing age and patience.
When the New Year is just minutes away families and friends gather together and wait for “Tahvil” to occur. Right after the moment of Nowruz, the family exchanges well wishes such as “Happy New Year” or “Sal-e No Mobarak!,سال نو مبارک” in Persian. Next, the eldest in the family distributes special sweets and candies to everyone, and young children are given coins as presents. It is also traditional for families and neighbors to visit each other and exchange special gifts. The haft-seen table remains in the family home for thirteen days after the beginning of Nowruz. The thirteenth day is called “Sizdeh Bedar”, which literally means in Persian “getting rid of the thirteenth.” This is a day of festivity in