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Nourooz:
Persian New Year
People of Persian (Iranian) heritage
celebrate their new year on the first
day of spring. They call it "Nourooz",
which means "new day".
The term Nourooz
first appeared in Persian records in the
second century AD, but it was also an
important day during the time of the
Achaemenids (c. 648-330 BC),
where kings from different nations under
the Persian empire used to bring gifts
to the emperor of Persia on Nourooz.
About two
weeks before the equinox, preparations
for Nourooz begins. Preparations include
cleaning the house, washing windows and
throwing out the old and replacing it
with the new one.
On the last Tuesday of the year a
ceremony takes place in which people
jump over the fire. The ceremony is
called "Chahar Shanbeh Souri", or
"the last Tuesday night of the year,"
the significance of which is to
strengthen the spring sun and to help it
triumph over the dark and cold winter.
Following the fire festivities, children
partake in a ritual similar to trick or
treating.
One of the most important activities is
to prepare a "Haft Seen", the seven
symbolic objects beginning with the
letter "S" in the Persian language. It
is popularly believed that
each item
symbolizes the seven guardian angels of
birth, life, health, happiness,
prosperity, beauty and light.
The most common objects of "Haft
Seen" are:
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"Sabzeh": wheat, barley
or lentil sprouts
growing in a dish -
symbolizing rebirth
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"Samanu": a sweet
pudding made from wheat
germ - symbolizing
affluence
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"Senjed": the dried
fruit of the oleaster
tree - symbolizing love
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"Sīr": garlic -
symbolizing medicine
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"Sīb": apples -
symbolizing beauty and
health
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"Somaq": sumac berries -
symbolizing (the color
of) sunrise |
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"Serkeh": vinegar -
symbolizing age and
patience
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Other items on the table may
include:
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"Sonbol": Hyacinth
(flower) - symbolizing
the earth's productivity
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"Sekkeh": Coins -
representative of wealth
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Traditional Iranian
pastries such as
baghlava, toot,
naan-nokhodchi
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Dried nuts, berries and
raisins (Aajeel)
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Lit candles
(enlightenment and
happiness)
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A mirror (symbolizing
cleanness)
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Decorated eggs,
sometimes one for each
member of the family
(fertility)
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A bowl of water with
goldfish (life within
life, and the sign of
Pisces which the sun is
leaving)
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A bowl of water with an
orange in it (the earth
floating in space)
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A holy book (e.g., the
Qur'an, Bible, Torah, or
Avesta)
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In order to complete the table there are
other symbols used such as coloured
eggs, which symbolize life, candles and
the holy book, which are all placed
along side of the other items. Last but
not least, one prepares "Sabzy-polo-mahy",
which is rice with white fish. It is the
last dinner or lunch that will be served
before the new year. The meal symbolizes
bounty (rice), growth (herbs) and
freshness (fish). Upon the completion of
preparations, everyone anxiously awaits
the arrival of the new season.
The new
year begins as soon as the sun crosses
the equator, which usually occurs on the
March 21. This year, however, it occurs
at 9:18:19 March 20 (+3:30 GMT), a time
carefully estimated in advance.
Chehel Sotoun's Wall painting, that
dates back to the Safavid era,
depicts a Chaharshanbe Suri celebration
At this point family members embrace and
say "Sal Noo Mobark" to one
another, then parents and children visit
their elder relatives.
This celebration goes on for 13 days,
the last day of which is called "Sizdeh Beh Dare". The entire family
goes outdoors to enjoy spring and
perhaps a picnic. Most people tie grass
strings together, which signifies the
hope that their wish will come true by
the end of the new year. This is done
especially for single people who wish to
get married.
 Booria
CAD/CAM Systems wish you and your
beloved ones a very happy and prosperous
new year.
Due to Persian new year (Nourooz)
and national holidays, our office
will be closed from 19th March till 2nd
April.
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Booria CAD/CAM Systems wish you and
your beloved ones a very happy and
prosperous new year. |
