Coinciding with the Spring Equinox, this year, the first day of the Persian new year often falls on 20 March in the UK. The exact time changes, but in 2019 it is thought that the first sighting of the moon, and therefore, the beginning of celebrations will take place at approcimately 21:40pm on the eve of the day itself. Nowruz, meaning “new day” in farsi, and believed to have been invented by Zoroastar, is a celebration of family, and the sharing of hopes for the new year.

At the exact time of the spring equinox, the family will gather round the Haft-Seen table in order to celebrate the arrival of the new year. The number seven is seen as sacred in Iran and tends to stand for the seven angelic heralds of life-rebirth, health, happiness, prosperity, joy, patience, and beauty. The Haft-Seen table is laden with seven symbolic symbols, all beginning with the letter S (or cinn Farsi):

Sabzeh (sprouting wheats) – representing rebirth

Samanu (persian rice-pudding) – representing the sweetness of new life

Seeb (apples) – representing health and beauty

Senjed (dried fruit of the Lotus tree) – representing love

Seer (garlic) – representing medicine

Somaq (dried sumac berries) – representing the colour of sunrise, with the idea that the sun/good conquers evil

Serkeh (vinegar) – representing age and patience.

Other optional symbols are also represented: coins representing prosperity, a goldfish representing life, a flowering white hyacinth representing purity, a mirror representing the reflections of Creation, and candles representing enlightenment.

Eidi (gifts) are often given to the children by Haji Firouz, the Zoroastrian fire keeper who welcomes in the new year by singing traditional songs and playing a tambourine. Haji Firouz will light a fire which is followed by a traditional game, in which all present jump over the flames to burn out evil spirits. In the same vain, young children will then spend the rest of the evening banging pots and pans, and generally making noise. They are often rewarded, or bribed with small monetary or sweet-based gifts. The children will often also decorate eggs, in a similar tradition to that of Christian Easter.

Although Nowruz is celebrated culturally rather than religiously, it does echo the ideas of other religious festivals celebrated at this time of year. From the ideas of new life, to the fun of decorating eggs, Nowruz and Easter clearly share the celebration of spring. The Haft-Seen table could also be seen as similar to the Seder table set out at the Jewish passover meal, the egg again being a prominent feature. Being so far from the western idea of New Year, the celebration of Nowruz can seem rather foreign to many in the UK. However, the yearly rebirth and springing forth of nature is universal, which can be celebrated in all faiths and cultures.

Image © Tumeric & Saffron blog