Happy Norooz (Persian New Year), Happy Spring!
Today is the first day of spring and it’s the beginning of a new year in the Persian calendar. Iranian families gather together to celebrate the moment the sun crosses the celestial equator and equalizes night and day. This year this exact moment passed today at 12:02 PM (UTC+1).
It’s our custom to set the table (called Haft Seen) for Norooz like preparing the Christmas tree for Christmas. Haft Seen in Farsi means seven “S.” The table (or spread) must have seven items that in Farsi begin with the letter “S”.
The main “Haft Seen” items usually are:
- Apple (symbolizes health and beauty)
- Vinegar (symbolizes age and patience)
- Samanoo (symbolizes affluence)
- Sumac (symbolizes the color of sunrise)
- Senjed (dried fruit from lotus tree, symbolizes love)
- Garlic (symbolizes medicine)
- Sabzeh (symbolizes rebirth)
Additional items that begin with the letter “S” in Farsi that are commonly seen on the Haft Seen are:
- Coin symbolizes wealth and prosperity
- Sonbol (hyacinth): a spring flower
Other even more items which can be included are:
- Goldfish: symbolizes life
- Candle: symbolizes enlightenment
- Mirror: symbolizing sky
- Painted eggs – symbolizing fertility
My Haft Seen had all the bold items. I even bought two goldfish in the last minute. But now I need to convince my daughter to return them after 2 weeks 😉
We had a lovely warm and sunny day in Vienna today. I hope you can also enjoy some sunshine and make the most out of every sunny day this spring,
Mahshid
2 Responses
Ina Jaschinski
sooo pretty!
T2F
Thank you!!!