Patch Blog: The Story of Nowruz—Persian New Year

Persian New Year, also known as Nowruz, is upon us. So what exactly is it about? Let a local Persian fill you in.

• Nowruz always begins on the 1st day of Spring.
• The year changes on the vernal equinox, which may occur March 19, 20, 21, 22.
• It makes its arrival at the precise moment the sun crosses the equator.
• Nowruz celebrations are symbolic of 2 ancient concepts:  1) The End and Rebirth and 2) Good and Evil.
• A few weeks before the new year, Iranians spring clean and rearrange their homes
• They make new clothes, bake pastries and germinate seeds as signs of renewal.
• The ceremonial cloth, (sofreh-ye-haft-sinn) is set up in each household.
• Troubadours, referred to as Hadji Firuz, disguise themselves with make-up and wear brightly colored satin clothes.  These Hadji Firuz parade the town with tambourines, kettle drums, and trumpets to spread good cheer and the news of the coming new year.
• On the eve of the last Wednesday of the year, (Shab-e-chahar-shanbeh sury), literally, the eve of Red Wednesday or the eve of celebration.  Bonfires are lit in public places and people leap over the flames shouting, “sorkhi-e-to-az-man o zardi man az to” which literally means give me your beautiful red color and take back my sickly pallor!  With the help of fire and light, symbols of good, we hope to see our way through this unlucky night – the End of the Year – to the arrival of spring’s longer days.
• Traditionally, it is believed that the living were visited by the spirits of their ancestors on the last days of the year.
• Many people, especially children, dress themselves in shrouds symbolically reenacting the visits.
• By the light of the bonfire, they run through the streets, banging on pots and pans with spoons to beat out the last, unlucky Wednesday of the year, while they knock on doors to ask for treats. 

To make wishes come true, it is customary to prepare special foods and distribute them on this night such as:  Ash-e-reshteh-nazri (noodle soup), a filled Persian delight (Baslogh) and special snacks called ajil-e-chahar-shanbeh sury (sweet trail mix) and ajil-moshkel-gosha.  The last meaning unraveler of difficulties is made of mixing seven dried nuts and fruits: pistachios, roasted chick peas, almonds, hazelnuts, peaches, apricots, raisins.

• A few days before the New Year, a special cloth is laid on the floor or atop a table, called sofreh-haft-sinn adorned with seven dishes, each one beginning with the Persian letter sinn.  The number 7 has been sacred in Iran since ancient times, and the 7 dishes stand for 7 angelic heralds of life – rebirth, health, happiness, prosperity, joy, patience, and beauty.
• The 7 dishes are:  1) Sabzeh or sprouts, usually wheat or lentil symbolizing rebirth.  2) Samanu – pudding of wheat sprouts – represents ultimate sophistication of Persian cooking.  3) Sib, means apple and represents health and beauty.  4) Senjed, the sweet, dry fruit of the lotus tree represents love.  5) Seer, which is garlic represents medicine.  6) Somaq, sumac berries, represent the color of sunrise, with the appearance of the sun, Good conquers Evil.  7) Serkeh, or vinegar represents age and patience.
• Other elements are also placed on the sofreh-haft-sinn, two books of tradition and wisdom are laid out, a copy of the epic book from Ferdowsi, Shahnameh, Book of Kings and a volume of the poems of Hafez, one of the great lyric Persian poets of the 14th century.  A few coins left on the sofreh represent prosperity and wealth.  A basket of painted eggs represents fertility.  A Seville orange floating in a bowl of water represents the earth floating in space.  A goldfish in a bowl of water represents life and the end of the astral year – Pisces.  A flask of rose water, known for its magical cleansing power is placed nearby.  Nearby is a brazier for burning wild rue, a sacred herb whose smoldering fumes ward off evil spirits.  A pot of flowering narcissus or hyacinth is also set on the sofreh – these are the 2 Persian flowers that bloom in the Spring and their sweet odor acknowledges the 5th sense.  On either side of the mirror are a candelabra with flickering candles for each member of the family – the candles represent enlightenment and happiness.  The mirror represents the images and reflections of Creation as we celebrate anew the ancient Persian traditions and beliefs that Creation took place on the first day of Spring.  Many sweets are also placed on the sofreh and offered to family members at the time of the New Year to sweeten the mouth and be happy. 
• Before the clock strikes the New Year, the immediate family gathers around the sofreh and reads poems or stories from the Shahnameh, as they await the arrival of the New Year.  When the tahvil or the year changes, the youngest in the family embrace and kiss the elders and wish them a happy New Year.  Sweets are passed around.  Calls are made to elders wishing them a Happy New Year.
• The New Year celebration continues for 12 days after the equinox occurs. The sweets are also passed to guests as they come to visit family.  The visits are paid to elders first and the elders return the visits of the youth in the extended family. During the visits, usually, money is given to the young as Eidy. 
• On the 13th day of Nowruz, called Sizdeh-bedar, literally outdoor thirteen, entire families leave their homes to carry trays of sprouted seeds in a procession to go picnic in the park.  They throw the sprouts into a body of water and complete the process of the end of one year the rebirth of another. 
• Fish and noodles are served on New Year’s Day – it is believed they bring good luck for the New Year.

Join Our Parenting Place on March 17, 1:30 - 4:30 p.m. for our 1st Annual Persian Nowruz Bazaar and Spring Festival. Visit www.ourparentingplace.com or RSVP to gmoshir@gmail.com