To Be Green By Spring and Noruz




No Ruz, new day or New Year as the Iranians call it, is a celebration of spring Equinox. It is the most cherished of all the Iranian festivals and is celebrated by all. This occasion has been renowned in one form or another by all the major cultures of ancient Mesopotamia. Sumerians, 3000BC, Babylonians, the ancient kingdom of Elam in Southern Persia and Akaddians in the second millennium BC, all celebrated this festival. What we have today as No Ruz with its� uniquely Iranian characteristics has been celebrated for at least 3000 years and is deeply rooted in the rituals and traditions of Zoroastrian belief system of the Sassanian period.
No Ruz, meaning new day and the beginning of the cycle of life. Iranians have celebrated this occasion for thousands of years. It starts at the beginning of spring and the seven creations are remembered and embraced. They are present at the Iranian New Year spread called Haft Sin. Originally seven symbols for each of the creations they are changed and modified but still present. The occasion is a very joyful one and is particularly loved by children.
A major part of the New Year rituals is setting a special table with seven specific items present, Haft Sin (Haft chin, seven crops before Islam). In the ancient times seven items corresponded to each of the seven creations and the seven holy immortals protecting them. Today they are changed and modified but some have kept their symbolism. All the seven items start with the letter �S�; this was not the order in ancient times.
Wheat or barley representing new growth and plant life is grown in a flat dish ten to twelve days before the New Year and is called �Sabzeh� (meaning green shoots). Decorated with colorful ribbons it is kept till the last day and will be disposed off on �Seezdeh beh dar�, the 13th day while outdoors. A few red live gold fish (the most easily obtainable animal) are placed in a fish bowl.Mirrors are placed on the spread with lit candles as a symbol of fire. Zoroastrians today place the lit candle in front of the mirror to increase the reflection of the light. The use of mirrors multiplies the reflection of the light and at the same time represents sky or heavens. Egg a universal symbol of fertility corresponding to the mother earth, Sepanta Armaiti is still present. The eggs are hard-boiled and traditionally are coloredFresh garlic (seer) is used to warn off bad omen. This is a modern introduction. There is no evidence that it was used in this context before. However the ancient Iranians would grow seven different herbs for the New Year and garlic might have been one of those. Samano a thick brownish paste is present today. It is a nutritious meal made with wheat and could have been part of the feasts. Coins (sekeh) symbolizing wealth and prosperity, fruits and special sweets and baked goods are present as well. Fruits including apple (sib), a sour herb called somagh and a local small fruit known as senjed (oleaster tree) are present as well and complete the seven �S�.Religious people have a copy of their holy book present, while others use a copy of Shahnameh or poetry by Hafez.They are expected to only think of good things, speak the good words and act the good deeds. This way they managed to maintain their balance and No Ruz was an occasion when life with all its� glory was celebrated and cherished. With modern Iranians, No Ruz is a feast of renewal and freshness; a time to visit relatives, friends and to pay respect to the older members of the family clan.