A Very Happy New Year to All!
I have the good fortune this year of being able to celebrate Noruz with my family tomorrow morning following a ridiculously early flight to LA (6 am) — and will be back 16 hours later.
Norouz is the festival of (the first day of) spring and the beginning of the Iranian Year. It is celebrated by some communities on March 21st, and by others on the day of the astronomical vernal equinox, which may occur on March 20th, 21st or 22nd.
. . .
A major tradition of Norouz is the setting of the Haft Seen (هفت سین) – the seven ‘S’s, seven items starting with letter S or “seen” (س) in Persian alphabet), which are seven specific items on a table symbolically corresponding to the seven creations and the seven holy immortals protecting them. Today they are changed and modified but some have kept their symbolism. Every family attempts to set as beautiful a Haft Seen table as they can, as it is not only of special spiritual meaning to them, but also is noticed by visitors to their house during Norouzi visitations and is a reflection of their good taste.
The following list is an example of some common Haft Seen items, though there isn’t consensus as to which seven:
* sabzeh – wheat, barley or lentil sprouts growing in a dish (symbolising rebirth)
* samanu – a sweet pudding made from wheat germ (symbolising affluence)
* senjed – the dried fruit of the jujube tree (love)
* seer – garlic (medicine)
* seeb – apples, (beauty and health)
* somaq – sumac berries (the colour of the sunrise)
* serkeh – vinegar (age and patience)
* sonbol – the fragrant hyacinth flower (the coming of spring)
* sekkeh – coins (prosperity and wealth)
Update: President Bush wishes you a Happy New Year as well!
