Happy Persian New Year

Today is the vernal equinox, Persian New Year, a date that has been celebrated as Nowruz (“new day”) for over 3,000 years.  I think that celebrating the vernal equinox is a wonderful idea – days are getting longer and warmer, things are beginning to bloom and grow.

This tradition is celebrated in a secular manner in Western and Central Asia and the Caucasus.  It grew out of the traditions of ancient Persian religions such as Zoroastrianism (the first monotheistic religion) in which an important concept is the connection of people to nature.

I remember celebrating Persian New Year (Nowruz) at my grandmother’s houses when I was growing up.  The highlight was always the haft-sin (pronounced “haft-seen”) table.  This is a display that is set up in advance of the new year which contains seven (“haft” in Farsi) items which begin with the letter “sin.”

• Sabze – literally translates as “greens.”  For the haft-sin display, sabze is sprouts of various beans and grains that are grown in/on dishes on the table.  This symbolizes rebirth or renewal.
• Samanu – a sweet pudding made from wheat germ.  This symbolizes wealth and fertility.
• Dried fruit/Persian olives (senjed) – symbolizing love.
• Vinegar (serke) – symbolizing the patience and wisdom of age.
• Apples (sib) – symbolizing beauty and health (an apple a day!).
• Garlic (sir) – symbolizing medicine.
• Sumac – a Persian spice.  This symbolizes the sunrise of a new day.

Other items that tend to be included in the display are:

• Candies (sweetness)
• A mirror (reflection)
• Candles (light)
• Painted eggs (fertility)
• A bowl of water
• Coins (prosperity)
• Goldfish (life)
• Hyacinth (grown from bulbs, not cut flowers)
• A “book of wisdom” could be a religious text or a book of poetry or literature

Food is a big part of any Persian celebration and Nowruz dinner is no different.  In addition to the usual assortment of different kinds of pollo (rice) and horesch (stew) of there is a certain pollo that traditional to eat for the new year made with these little tart berries and I want to say orange peel and almonds.  Fish is always served.  And kuku sabzi – a sort of herb frittata.

There are lots of other traditions that are part of Nowruz celebrations as well:

• You are supposed to do a big spring cleaning before the new year – all the rugs, the windows, etc.
• The Wednesday before Nowruz is a celebration called Chanar Shanbeh Soori, which translates literally to “Red Wednesday.”  On this night bonfires are lit to beckon enlightenment and happiness for the new year.  It is traditional to eat super delicious Persian noodle soup – ash a reshteh – which I am now thinking that I need to find a recipe for and make (it is seriously SO delicious).
• On the new year, children are given gifts of fresh bank notes (new money) from elders.
• Thirteen days after Nowruz is called Sizdah Bedar (“nature’s day”) which is celebrated by having a picnic.  This is also when the haft-sin table gets cleaned up.

On that note, I would like to say, “Eid-eh shoma mobarak” (happy new year to you) and wish you happy spring!