A beloved Nowruz New Year tradition is growing
Sabzeh, or sprouts made from lentils or wheat
seeds, which create an edible centerpiece
symbolizing birth and growth.
Nowruz
[or norooz, pronounced NO-ROOZ] in Persian means "New-day".
Annual celebrations
mark the start of spring and the beginning of a new year.
Nowruz
begins precisely at the vernal
equinox, on the 1st day of Farvardin of the Islamic solar
calendar, usually anywhere from March 19 -21.
This year, Nowruz falls on Thursday, March 20, 2025
It is
a time of great joy and family celebrations that are shared
by people of all faiths in many countries and traces its
history back through the centuries -- to the ancient Mesopotamian
civilization and the Persian Empire.
House cleaning is a big part of the preparations while minstrels,
Haji
Firuz, sing in the streets to announce the upcoming festivities. On the days before Nowruz, bonfires are also lit and children gather
coins and treats as they visit neighbors.
Families gather at Haft-seen or Haft-sinn,
tables set with special traditional
Nowruz foods and recipes that all begin with the sound of the letter
"S" Seeb - apple; Sabze - green grass or
Sabzeh - wheat or lentil sprouts; Serke - vinager; Samanoo
- a paste made out of wheat; Senjed - a berry native to the
region; Sekke - a coin; and Seer - garlic.
You'll
find other lists of the seven S sound items in the sites below.
As often happens with such ancient traditions, a bit of variation
has crept into the celebration in the centuries since it was
first begun. Most haftseen tables also include a small fishbowl
with goldfish and a mirror to represent elements of the earth
and human consciousness.
The sixth
day of the festivities is Zarathushtra's
birthday and special celebrations are held to mark the
occasion. The 13th day wraps up the new year as parks are traditionally filled with families spending the day out of doors. -- where girls can be seen tying grass
in knots to wish for a good husband!
Nowruz
is the beginning of the year for the people of Afghanistan,
Azerbaijan, Iran, Tajikistan and a few of the Asian republics
of the former Soviet Union. It is also celebrated as the new
year by people descended from Persian and Iranian ancestors.
The Kurds in Georgia, Iraq, Syria, and Turkey celebrate Nowruz
as the new year festival. Many communities where people from
these countries have settled also join in the celebrations.
Lord
Now Ruz has come.
Friends, spread this message -
The New Year has come again!
This spring be your good luck,
The tulip fields be your joy.
Haji Firuz Song
No-Rooz,
The Iranian New Year at Present Times
- Pictures of "Haft Seen" and "Sizdah-Bedar"and
a good explanation of the rituals that surround the new year
celebrations. The site offers many other articles on the arts
and culture of Iran.
NOWRUZ
The Zarathushtrian New Year - A precise timetable
of Nowruz in your area, with a very good section of the Haft Seen and history
behind the celebrations.
Aunt
Naheed's recipes for Nowruz - Complete ingredients
and instructions for Sabzi polo va mahi (white fish with herbs
and rice) and a baklava dessert.