Happy New Year everyone!  No … im not really late with my celebrations, the Persians (think of the movie 300 only instead of freaky people with goat heads … wth … imagine a lovely family not letting you leave until your stomach bursts from having too amazing food) celebrate their New Year with the Spring Equinox which is TODAY!

 

As part of the Persian celebration people put out a “Haft-Seen” which is normally a table with little goodies on it to symbolize things that people would want to see out of a good New Year, and here is a very simple one I made.

 

This is the Haft Seen, as you can see there are lots of little goodies on the table, lets take a look at each one of them to see what they represent in Persian Culture!

 

This is Sabzeh (or wheat grass).  It symbolizes rebirth.

Seeb (Apples) symbolizes health and beauty.  You know what Persians say … a Seeb a day …

 

Serkeh (Vinegar) represents Age and Patience.  I think i need more vinegar in my life …

Somaq (I don’t know what this is in English) represents the color of sunrise for a bright and sun-shining day!

Seer (Garlic) represents medicine and health

Senjed a dried fruit is said to represent love.  This is the dried fruit of a Lotus Tree, and in Persian Folklore, it is said that when the Lotus Tree is in bloom, with its beautiful flowers, all those around it fall in love and become oblivious to all else.

A candle represents the life of the family, and our hope for it to continue burning.

Coins are placed on the table and represent wealth and prosperity.  The idea is, that if the coins sit on the table during the Spring Equinox, they will be blessed and bring you good luck.  But don’t spend them!

Finally, the Qur’an is placed on the Haft Seen to represent faith.

 

Thank you all for taking the time to learn a little about my culture!

 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!