It’s almost time for Nowruz, the most important holiday in
the Iranian culture. Nowruz, meaning “New Day”, celebrates the coming of spring
and the renewal of nature. This holiday marks the beginning of the Persian
calendar and occurs every year at the exact moment that spring starts. This
year, Nowruz will take place on Sunday March 20 at 12:30 a.m.
When Nowruz arrives, families gather and say, "Sal-e no
mobarak," or “Happy New Year”! It
is tradition for the oldest member of the family to give gifts to the younger
ones. Soon after, family and friends begin visiting each other’s homes to
welcome the new year.
One of the most important Nowruz traditions is the, "Sofreh-e Haft Seen," a ceremonial table where all dishes begin with
the Persian letter "S". The most iconic part of the table is the
“sabze” or sprouts, which represent rebirth. Other dishes include “serke” or
vinegar, which represents patience and "seeb" or apple, which symbolizes
beauty and health.
Here at Johnsview Village P.S. would like to wish everyone
celebrating this holiday a, “Happy Nowruz”!
Seeb (apple),
Sabze (green grass), Serke (vinegar), Samanoo (sweet pudding made from wheat
germ), Senjed (a kind of berry), Sekke (coin), and Seer (garlic). Other options
are Somagh (sumak, an Iranian spice), Sombol (spring flower).
To complete the Sofreh, we also include: eggs, candles, mirror, etc…
