Nowruz (Iranian New Year) items in West Ealing, London
Nowruz marks the first day of spring and the beginning of the Iranian calendar. It is celebrated on the day of the astronomical vernal equinox (start of spring in northern hemisphere), which usually occurs on the March 21st or the previous/following day depending on where it is observed. It is celebrated in numerous countries across the Middle East and Central Asia. (source: Wikipedia - I know, I know...)
Haft Sîn is a major tradition of Nowruz. The 'haft sin' table includes seven items starting with the letter S (or Sīn in the Persian alphabet). The Haft Sin items are:
sabzeh - wheatgrass, barley or lentil sprouts growing in a dish - symbolizing rebirth (pictured above)
samanu - a sweet pudding made from wheat germ - symbolizing affluence
senjed - the dried fruit of the oleaster tree - symbolizing love
sīr - garlic - symbolizing medicine
sīb - apples - symbolizing beauty and health
somaq - sumac berries - symbolizing (the color of) sunrise
serkeh - vinegar - symbolizing age and patience
Other items on the table may include:
Sonbol - Hyacinth (flower) (pictured above)
Sekkeh - Coins - representative of wealth
traditional Iranian pastries such as baghlava, toot, naan-nokhodchi,
dried nuts, berries and raisins (Aajeel)
lit candles (enlightenment and happiness)
a mirror (symbolizing cleanness and honesty)
decorated eggs, sometimes one for each member of the family (fertility) (pictured above)
a bowl of water with goldfish (life within life, and the sign of Pisces which the sun is leaving) (pictured above)
a bowl of water with an orange in it (the earth floating in space)
rose water for its magical cleansing powers
the national colours, for a patriotic touch
a holy book (e.g., the Qur'an, Avesta, Bible, Torah, or Kitáb-i-Aqdas,) and/or a poetry book (almost always either the Shahnama or the Divan of Hafez) (source: Wikipedia)
See here for further explanation of Haft Sîn:
www.iranica.com/newsite/index.isc?Article=http://www.iran...
Nowruz (Iranian New Year) items in West Ealing, London
Nowruz marks the first day of spring and the beginning of the Iranian calendar. It is celebrated on the day of the astronomical vernal equinox (start of spring in northern hemisphere), which usually occurs on the March 21st or the previous/following day depending on where it is observed. It is celebrated in numerous countries across the Middle East and Central Asia. (source: Wikipedia - I know, I know...)
Haft Sîn is a major tradition of Nowruz. The 'haft sin' table includes seven items starting with the letter S (or Sīn in the Persian alphabet). The Haft Sin items are:
sabzeh - wheatgrass, barley or lentil sprouts growing in a dish - symbolizing rebirth (pictured above)
samanu - a sweet pudding made from wheat germ - symbolizing affluence
senjed - the dried fruit of the oleaster tree - symbolizing love
sīr - garlic - symbolizing medicine
sīb - apples - symbolizing beauty and health
somaq - sumac berries - symbolizing (the color of) sunrise
serkeh - vinegar - symbolizing age and patience
Other items on the table may include:
Sonbol - Hyacinth (flower) (pictured above)
Sekkeh - Coins - representative of wealth
traditional Iranian pastries such as baghlava, toot, naan-nokhodchi,
dried nuts, berries and raisins (Aajeel)
lit candles (enlightenment and happiness)
a mirror (symbolizing cleanness and honesty)
decorated eggs, sometimes one for each member of the family (fertility) (pictured above)
a bowl of water with goldfish (life within life, and the sign of Pisces which the sun is leaving) (pictured above)
a bowl of water with an orange in it (the earth floating in space)
rose water for its magical cleansing powers
the national colours, for a patriotic touch
a holy book (e.g., the Qur'an, Avesta, Bible, Torah, or Kitáb-i-Aqdas,) and/or a poetry book (almost always either the Shahnama or the Divan of Hafez) (source: Wikipedia)
See here for further explanation of Haft Sîn:
www.iranica.com/newsite/index.isc?Article=http://www.iran...