Norouz Festival in Iran

Norooz festival, an ancient and everlasting celebration, is the ancient tradition of Iran which marks the arrival of spring and starts on the first day of spring (March 21) and lasts for 13 days.. In harmony with the rebirth of nature, the Persian New Year celebration, Norooz, always begins on the first day of spring. This celebration and its rituals go back to at least four thousand years ago. NoRouz means the "New Day", and refers to a new beginning, a new year. Although its historical origin is not known, it is certain that Norooz had been celebrated by kings and people throughout the monarchy of Achamenids and Sasanids and after the extinction of Yazdgerd's royal family, through Islam's pervasive jurisdiction, to the modern age of 21st century.
In Zoroastrianism, the annual seasonal renewal festival of Norooz in the spring is at the same time a solemn and joyful celebration of new life and revival of nature and the anticipated resurrection of the body when the world will be restored to its original and intended goodness - after the defeat of Ahriman (the spirit of evil and chaos) and his demons. Nowadays, the Norooz festival is celebrated in many countries including Afghanistan, Tajikestan, India, Irag, Pakistan, and Azarbaijan. At Norooz, children get fresh currency bills or coins from elderly relatives as gifts, but what it is most widely exchanged are lots of HUGs and Kisses for new friendships and renewing old ones!
According to Persian legends, Norooz is the first day of Creation. In mid-March - a week before the start of the New Year - people begin to clean their houses by washing carpets and rugs, painting the walls, and dusting off all their belongings: They call this Khaneh - takani in Farsi. Norooz represents much of what Iranian character, history, politics, and religion are all about. For centuries, Persians have applied the Norooz spirit to every dark challenge that has come their way. This spirit has made Norooz far more than just a New Year celebration over the course of history.
Honoring the spring's arrival - season of happiness and cheerful days - some wheat or other grains are grown: To do this, the grains are soaked in water, and then are spread on a plate to germinate. The crop is called 'sabzeh" which is thrown away on the 13th day. In the past, at the Eve of Norooz, some people used to strike an old earthenware pot on a wall and smash it in to pieces as a symbol of old days gone.One popular ceremony of the festival is setting a table called Haft-sin in which seven things are placed that begin with letter "s" in Farsi like sekkeh (coin), somagh (sumac), senjid (oleaster), serkeh (vinegar), sib(apple), etc.
The following is a list of "Haft-Seen" items and a brief description of their symbolic meaning or cultural significance.

· Sabzeh (sprouts, usually lentil or wheat): Representing fertility and the rebirth of nature. In ancient times, a sample of the grain to be planted in the spring was used as a test of how high the harvest would be that year.

· Seeb (apple): Represents natural beauty.

· Samanu (a pudding in which common wheat is transformed and given new life as a sweet, creamy pudding): Represents the reward of patience.

· Somaq (sumac berry used as spice): Represents the color of sunrise; with the appearance of the sun Good conquers Evil.

· Senjed (a sweet, dry fruit of the Lotus tree): Represents love and romance. It has been said that when a lotus tree is in full bloom, its fragrance and its fruit make people fall in love and become oblivious to all else!

· Seer (garlic): Represents health.

· Serkeh (vinegar): Represents age. In pre-islamic Iran, this item used to be wine.
Other items that you may see on Haft-Seen table:

• A mirror, which represents the images and reflections of Creation that by Persian beliefs took place on the first day of Spring. On either side of the mirror are two candlesticks holding a flickering candle for each child in the family. The candles represent enlightenment and happiness.
• Sonbol (Hyacinth): Spring flowers with the scent of heaven.
• Sekkeh (coins): 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 represents life.
• A flask of rose water known for its magical power is also included on the tablecloth.
• And finally, incense (mounted in sprouts) whose fumes ward off evil spirits. The last Tuesday night of the year is spent jumping over bonfires in the hope that any bad spirits that may try to follow you into the New Year will fall into the fire, freeing you from their evil! This is similar to Halloween. The 13th day after the New Year is also celebrated, with a day-long picnic, to ward off the unlucky number 13 by spending the day out of doors.