Iranian New Year or ‘Nowruz’ which simply means new day, is the biggest and the most significant celebration of the Iranian community the world over.
It is traditionally marked at the exact astronomical beginning of spring. This exact second is called ‘Saal Tahvil’. Originally Nowruz was celebrated as a spring festival. What is celebrated to this day with its uniquely Iranian characteristics is a 3,000-year-old tradition that is deeply rooted in the traditions of the Zoroastrian belief system.
Before the New Year, Iranians start cleaning their houses ‘Khaane Tekaani’, and buy new clothes. But a major part of New Year rituals is the ceremonial setting of the table or ‘Haft Seen’ with seven specific items. All the seven items start with the letter ‘S’. These seven things usually are: ‘Seeb’ (apple), ‘Sabze’ (green grass), ‘Serke’ (vinegar), ‘Samanoo’ (a meal made out of wheat), ‘Senjed’ (a special kind of berry), ‘Sekke’ (coin), and ‘Seer’ (garlic). Sometimes instead of ‘Serke’ they put ‘Somagh’ (sumak, an Iranian spice). A few live gold fish are placed in a fish bowl that represents life and fertility. Mirrors are placed on the spread with lit candles as a symbol of fire. Most people also keep traditional Iranian tomes on their ‘Sofreh’ (spread) in order to bless the New Year.
‘We have a very vibrant Iranian community in Bahrain and the days leading up to Nowruz and the week after it is packed with celebrations. In fact I have always done the ceremonial ‘sofreh-ye haft-sin’ even when I was a bachelor. But now my wife does it,’ says Mustafa Pajouyan, a young executive living in Bahrain.
After the Saal Tahvil, people exchange good wishes and presents (traditionally cash) and visit relatives and friends. Traditional Iranian meals and ‘Aajil’ (a combination of different nuts with raisins and other sweet stuff) or fruits are consumed. The day of ‘Sizdah Bedar’ is spent mostly outdoors as Iranians regard the 13th day as a bad omen and believe that by going into the fields and parks they would avoid misfortunes.
