Garlic, apples, vinegar, sprouts, hyacinth flowers, sweet pudding and coins. These components, which all start with sin (S in the Farsi language), come together on the first day of Persian New Year over an elaborate tapestry on a table. Being on the Iranian calendar which dates back 3,000 years, Persian New Year begins on the first day of spring and spreads its celebrations across thirteen days. Also called Nowruz, meaning “new day,” the new year is celebrated in countries with Zoroastrian and Baha’i traditions.

One of the most famous and celebrated parts of Nowruz is the Sofreh Haft-Seen (seven S’s), which is a decorated spread that contains items to symbolize themes for a prosperous new year. For example Iranians grow sabzeh, or wheatgrass, by soaking wheat or barley seeds in water to symbolize rebirth. This sabzeh is known to collect all negativity and bad energy from a household while it is growing. The vinegar on the table represents the beauty of aging and the practice of patience, two valued things to remember as the years progress. A bowl of goldfish is also commonly placed on a Haft-Seen to represent life and prosperity. Each Haft-Seen is unique to every household, so it is a personalized and admired tradition.

Unlike most new year holidays that only celebrate on the day the year changes, Nowruz is a 13 day celebration and recognizes different things on each day. On the first day or even earlier, spring cleaning is done extensively throughout the household to represent a rebirth and new beginnings. Celebrants also usually participate in a large shopping spree to replace an old wardrobe to symbolize a new and improved person that will come in the following year. On the Wednesday before Nowruz, Persian communities meet up at local parks and hold small bonfires around the park. This tradition, called Charshanbe Suri, involves people jumping over the fire to symbolize their past mistakes and regrets being burned up in the ashes. The park is not only filled with newcomers who hesitantly wait in front of the fire and jump over it as quickly as possible, but also middle-aged Persian moms who take a phone call during their slow stroll over the flames. No matter their age or gender, every person is able to enjoy a night flooded with laughter, memories and lots of kabobs on pita bread. Another cherished tradition falls on the last day of the 13 day celebration. Sizdah Bedar, which literally translates to “13 by the water”, is a day at the lake or ocean that begins around noon and ends whenever the Persians please. It is essentially a huge picnic with the entire Persian community of a city, where everyone lays out their blankets in their own areas and shares food amongst each other. Along with traditional food, Sizdah Bedar is also a time to dance, play a game of competitive volleyball, see old friends and spend quality time with your family. Because it is the last day of the new year, the wheatgrass that was grown for the Haft-Sin is let go into the water to float away and is considered bad omen if you touch it again or bring it back home. As sabzeh is used to collect negativity, this release of it is an important aspect of leaving behind all the bad in the past year and moving forward to a healthy and happy new year.

All in all, Nowruz is a tradition overflowing with rich cultural practices filled with profound symbolism.This long-held celebration allows for those who celebrate to step into the new year with a fresh start, ready to make this year better than the last.