The celebration of Nowruz (the beginning of Spring) is an important event in the Persian culture. Last night we were the guests of Mike and Mina Garakani at a party that featured at least a dozen Persian dishes. It was a great evening and we toasted the new year at 9:30 p.m. One important tradition is display of a "haft seen" table that includes seven symbolic items all starting with an "s" sound. They include:
Sabzeh (sprouted wheat grass): For rebirth and renewal
• Samanu (sweet pudding): For affluence and fertility
• Senjed (sweet, dried lotus tree fruit): For love
• Serkeh (vinegar): For patience and wisdom gained through aging
• Sir (garlic): For medicine and maintaining good health
• Sib (apples): For health and beauty
• Sumac (crushed spice made from reddish berries): For recalling the sunrise
Additional items on the table include:
• Mirror: To reflect on the past year
• Live goldfish in a bowl: To represent new life
• Orange in a bowl of water: To symbolize the Earth
• Decorated eggs: For fertility
• Coins: For future prosperity
• Books of classical poetry and/or the Koran: For spirituality
As the eldest in the Hatefi family, Roger has been receiving phone calls all morning from all over the U.S. and Europe to wish us a happy new year. SO, we wish all of you reading this
Nowruz Moobarak ! May every day of the new year glow with new cheer and happiness for you and your family.
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