YVONNE BROWN
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Persian New Year

3/20/2013

16 Comments

 
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Today is Nowruz (Know-Rooz), meaning “New Day” and is the name of the Persian New Year. In 2010, the UN’s General Assembly recognized the International Day of Nowruz describing it as a spring festival of Persian origin which has been celebrated for over 3,000 years.  The moment the sun crosses the celestial equator and equalizes night and day is the specific time when Persian families gather together to observe New Year rituals.  For me, I always feel a true sense of renewal during and after Nowroz leading up to my birthday in mid April.


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2013 Nowruz Celebration at the Freer Gallery of Art/ Arthur M. Sackler Gallery/ International Gallery and S. Dillon Ripley Center
                        *     *     *
This year my family enjoyed doing something a little different.  The daylong festivities featured entertaining programs for all ages.  Our favorites included performances by the Nomad Dancers and the “Fire” jumping which symbolized the celebration of the seasons changing and rebirth.


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Persian New Year Fire Jumping, Parade, and Celebration in NYC 2011

Nowruz Family Traditions

Many Persians begin the New Year with a thorough spring-cleaning of their entire home a few days before the actual New Year so that they begin the New Year with a clean start.  At the strike of the clock indicating the New Year, families are typically adorned with new dresses and suits gathering around the Nowruz table and Haft Sin. Prayers are offered for health, happiness and prosperity. Next, the family members hug and kiss each other as part of the New Year greetings. The delicacies prepared for the occasion are served and consumed. The oldest member of the family then takes the lead and presents the Eidi (New Year’s gift) to the younger members present.

Traditional Nowruz Food

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Lucky for me, my mother prepares the intricate New Year dishes with some help from Costco, which sells smoked whiting that is served with Sabzi Polo, rice with green herbs along with another New Year staple, Kookoo sabzi that has nothing to do with the movie The One That Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest!  This tantalizing dish is a light and fluffy omelet made from parsley, dill, coriander, spinach, spring onions, chives, walnuts, red currants and of course eggs.  Personally, I like my New Year's plate paired with tadeek; my two year old refers to it as the “crunchies” and it is rice purposefully burnt to a golden crisp.  Sometimes my mother will add thin slices of potato to the rice making it extra crispy.


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Koo Koo Sabzi

Haft Sin (Haf Seen)

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The number seven has been regarded magical and significant for the Zoroastrians. The number seven symbolizes the seven elements of life, namely, fire, earth, water, air, plants, animals and humans. The traditional table setting of Jamshed Navroz includes seven specific items beginning with the letter ‘S’, known as Haft Sin, that signify life, health, wealth, abundance, love, patience and purity. These items are also known to have astrological correlations to planets Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn, and Sun and Moon.



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Haft Sin Items and Symbolism
Mirror-   cleanness and honesty
Apple-    earth
Candles-  fire
Rose Water-    believed to have magical cleansing powers
Wheat or Barley Sprouts-     plants
Goldfish- turn of New Year and it’s beginning-   the sign of 

                                                           Pisces which is the sun leaving)
                                                           Painted Eggs-    Fertility


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Other Items
Samanu-  a sweet pudding made from wheat germ- symbolizing affluence
Senied-  the dried fruit of the Oleaster Tree- love
Garlic-  medicine
Sumac-  the color of the sunrise
Vinegar-   age and patience
Hyacinth Plant
Coins-  wealth
Traditional Persian pastries
Dried nuts, berries, and raisins

                                                                   The national colors-   for a patriotic touch
                                                                 A holy book (e.g. Qur’an, Torah, Bible) and/or a poetry book                                                                              


A short video showing the Haft Sin Table 

Nowruz Images

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16 Comments
Rob link
3/20/2013 06:05:05 am

Such great traditions!

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Yvonne Brown
3/20/2013 06:23:32 am

Thanks Rob!

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Cassie link
3/20/2013 06:09:31 am

This is spectacular! I love, love, love embracing different cultures! I would have loved to see the Nomad Dancers and the “Fire” jumping :D!

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Yvonne Brown
3/20/2013 06:24:21 am

Thanks Cassie! At the Freer Gallery, they had fake fire for the kids to jump over. It was so CUTE! lol

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Cassie
3/20/2013 06:32:05 am

lol fake fire? lol! that is something else! aww♥

Heather Petersen link
3/20/2013 06:56:24 am

This look like a great family tradition and lots of fun!

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Yvonne Brown
3/20/2013 07:36:22 am

Thanks Heather!

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Loretta
3/20/2013 07:18:25 am

So nice to get to read all about this! My husband loves tadeek, and specifically orders it at the Persian restaurant we eat at!

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Yvonne Brown
3/20/2013 07:37:19 am

That is awesome Loretta! Have you heard about the tale that comes from liking tadeek?

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Robin Pisciotta | http://www.marketingyourpurpose.com link
3/20/2013 07:29:58 am

Super cool post! I loved learning all the traditions :)

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Yvonne Brown
3/20/2013 07:37:48 am

Thanks Robin! Happy to hear!

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Dov Shapira link
3/20/2013 10:42:03 am

I love Persian food
Chimy choori? lol

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Jen @ Existential Evolution link
3/20/2013 11:15:08 pm

I love learning about other cultural traditions. Thanks for sharing this with us!

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Jennifer Sharifian
3/21/2013 01:33:40 am

I love it!!! Its awesome. I am actually going to print it out so my little boy can read it. I dis not explain it as well as you did! ! I was hoping once he goes to Persian (Saturday) school he would grasp it better.... Thanks so much for sharing...

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Yvonne Brown
3/21/2013 03:19:42 am

Thanks for sharing Jennifer! You are too kind!

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Stephen link
3/21/2013 08:36:46 am

This is an incredibly informative post!

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