Nowruz, a Persian New Year, began on Thursday and began a celebration of life, renewal and rebirth that Iran and beyond have been observing for generations.
Over 300 million people around the world celebrate Nowruz. This means “new day” in Persia. Many of them greet each other by saying, “Nowruzetan Pirooz” or “I hope Nowruz wins you!”
A holiday bound by the equinox of spring traces its roots to the Persian Empire. People from the Balkans, the Black Sea Basin, the Caucasus, Central Asia and the Middle East have celebrated it for over three thousand years.
Alileza Hedayati, president of the New York American Association, a nonprofit based on Long Island, said it has accumulated in Knowles.
Hedayati said things start to get hot “as soon as they start to get a little warmer in late February and early March.” “Everyone gets a little excited and wants to do things.”
Here's what you need to know about one of the oldest holidays in the world:
Holiday habits
For the New Year, Nowruz celebrations will thoroughly clean the house. Mr. Hedayati likened it to spring cleaning.
“You're supposed to clean up all the mess in your home,” he said to make sure you're ready to start a new year.
According to the United Nations, the practice is known as “shaking the dust” of the past. In 2010, the UN General Assembly declared the International Day of Nowruz on March 21st.
Also, many people have begun growing sabze (wheatgrass or lentil buds) on their dishes at least 20 days before their holidays, Hedayati said.
Some Nowruz practices may vary from region to region and from family to family. However, Kambiz Mofrad, chairman of the Persian Parade Foundation, which hosts the annual Persian Parade in New York City, said one of the most popular dishes served on the eve of Nowruz is Sabzi Polo.
It is served with fragrant rice dishes cooked with fresh herbs such as coriander, parsley and dill, and traditionally fried white fish.
Mofurado said many families are also preparing Kukusabaji, a Persian herb frittata made from coriander, parsley, dill, walnuts and eggs. Some families added barberry or white fish eggs to add extra flavour, he added.
On the big day, you're supposed to make sure you're wearing new clothes too, Hedayati said.
Fire Festival
Chahar Shanbesri, held on the last Tuesday before the Knowles, is known as the Fire Festival. On this day, many people jump over the fire and say, “My enthusiasm for you and your redness for me,” Mohrad said.
“Yellow is a symbol of fear, hatred and weakness,” he said. “You want to give it to the fire and then take away the redness of the fire,” expresses happiness, courage and health.
Symbols of renewal and prosperity
Every household celebrating Nowruz has a table with traditional arrangements of seven iconic items starting with a Persian Letter “∈” (Sīn). Mofrado said each item represents a different aspect of life, renewal and prosperity.
Seven “S” items and their symbolism:
Apple, or Seeb: Represents health and beauty
Garlic, or visionary: short for protection and medicine
Vinegar, or serke: represents patience and longevity
Urus, or Samak: Abbreviation for Sunrise and New Beginnings
Buds (wheat, lentils, barley), or sabze: representing growth and regeneration
Dried orester fruit (silverberry), or senid: short for love and wisdom
Sweet pudding (wheat germ), or Samanu: represents strength and prosperity
Apart from these seven “core” items, Haft-Seen can contain mirrors for reflection and truth.
Wishing of good fortune
Observed on the 13th day of Nowruz, the Sizdah Be-Dar is when people head to the park with wheatgrass and lentil buds grown for the New Year. They want good fortune by throwing them into moving water. The Sizdah Be-Dar festival is huge, Hedayati said. The Iran American Association in New York is holding a celebration on Sunday, March 30th this year, as the actual 13th day lands on workday.
“It's like a potluck,” he said, explaining how everyone can share everything.
“If you have nothing,” he said, “You look around the table next to you, and they give it.”
Hedayati said at Sizdah Be-Dar that single women tie Sabzeh's blades into the knot and then throw them into the water for the possibility of marriage within a year as well as for the good fortune.
“It's all fortunate,” he said.
