Happy Nowruz 2020!

After a long blogging hiatus, I am back with a new post about Nowruz, my favorite holiday. This Nowruz is undoubtedly unlike any other in the past. As you all know, these are very difficult times for so many of us as we try our best to stay positive and get through this pandemic day by day. We are all coping with feelings of fear, anxiety, isolation, and economic hardship. However, life continues to go on and seasons change, and with the spring equinox comes a new sense of hope, growth, rebirth, and rejuvenation. I wish you all a very healthy, happy, and prosperous Nowruz. I hope you all stay safe and strong. Please make sure you take the necessary measures to protect yourself and your loved ones.

The traditional Haft Seen table includes Sabzeh (wheat sprouts), Seer (garlic), Seeb (apple), Senjed (fruits of oleaster tree), Somagh (sumac), Serkeh (vinegar), Tokhme Morgh Rangi (colored eggs), Sekeh (coins), Sonbol (hyacinth), as well as a mirror, candles, and a Hafez poetry book or holy book.

Below is a recipe for Sekanjabin, an ancient Persian syrup and drink that is both healthy and refreshing.

Sekanjabin Syrup

Ingredients

-1 cup honey (clover or orange blossom)

-3-4 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

-A small bunch of fresh mint

-Rosewater

Method:

1. In a small saucepan, combine honey and 1/2 cup of water. Bring to a gentle boil over medium heat. 

2. Add the mint, boil for 10-15 minutes. Add vinegar, simmer for an additional 5-7 minutes. 

3. Add a few drops of rosewater, remove from heat. Cool and serve with lettuce.  

Sharbat-e Sekanjabin 

Mix 2 tablespoons of sekanjabin syrup with grated small cucumber, a few drops of rosewater, and water. Add a few ice cubes and serve cold.

Enjoy!
!نوروزتان پیروز 
Nowruzetan Pirooz!

Happy Nowruz 2019! Persian New Year Traditions and Haft Seen Photos

Nowruz, which means "new day" in Persian, marks the arrival of spring, nature's renewal, and the beginning of the new year. This year, sal-e tahvil (vernal equinox) falls on Wednesday, March 20, at 5:58 pm here in New York. 

This ancient festival, with roots dating back thousands of years, is celebrated not only in Iran but also by Iranians around the world, as well as in countries such as Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. Nowruz is a time of togetherness with family and friends, sitting around a sofreh-ye haft seen, feeling gratitude for the year past, and looking forward with hope to what lies ahead.

Traditions continue throughout the 13 days of Nowruz. Following the Nowruz celebration, the traditional did-o-bazdid (visiting friends and family) starts, and the festivities end on the 13th day of Nowruz, which is called sizdah- bedar (getting rid of 13). This day is traditionally spent outdoors, picnicking in nature. On this day, sabzeh is released into running water, carrying away any negativity and misfortune from the home.

Preparation for Nowruz begins weeks earlier with khaneh tekani (spring cleaning), clearing away dust and clutter to welcome renewal. A guiding Zoroastrian teaching remembered during this time is beautifully simple: Good Thoughts, Good Words, Good Deeds.

At the heart of Nowruz is the haft-Seen table (haft=seven, seen=the letter "s" in Farsi). Each of these items starts with "s" and carries a symbolic meaning:

سبزه  Sabzeh - wheat, lentil, or mung sprouts need to be germinated a couple of weeks before the sal-e tahvil to have a long and green sabzeh.

1. Sabzeh (sprouts) - rebirth and renewal
2. Samanoo (wheat pudding) - patience 
3. Seeb (apple) - beauty
4. Seer (garlic) - health
5. Sekeh (coin) - prosperity
6. Senjed (oleaster) - love
7. Serkeh (vinegar) - age 

In addition to these seven items, other items often included are a mirror (reflection), candles (light), goldfish (life), sumac (the spice of life), colored eggs (fertility), and a book of poetry by Hafez, or a prayer book. sweets, sonbol (hyacinth), and other spring flowers.

The Nowruz feast often includes sabzi polow (rice and herbs) with mahi (fish), reshteh polow, kookoo sabzi, ash reshteh, and dolmeh, among many other dishes that might differ from region to region.

Sal-e No Mobarak! Happy Nowruz!

Haft Seen Table - Nowruz 2018!

Persian New Year (Spring equinox) has officially arrived! It doesn't quite feel like it where I live since it is still cold and the flowers have yet to bloom, but I remember how the warmth of spring should feel, with the fresh emerald green grass covering the ground and vibrant flowers everywhere. I am grateful that I experienced Nowruz back home in Iran, where I grew up. The excitement and enthusiasm that I felt celebrating Eid-e Nowruz in Iran has stayed with me all these years and inspires me to recreate what I have learned and to share it with my family and all of you! Let's celebrate the renewal and the rejuvenation of nature with our loved ones and set the Haft Seen table with items representing health, prosperity, rebirth, fertility, beauty, light, and love.

Sabzeh symbolizes rebirth and spring

Seeb (apple) symbolizes beauty

Senjed symbolizes love

Somagh (sumac) symbolizes the spice of life

Seer (garlic) symbolizes health and to ward off bad omens

Samanoo (wheat pudding) symbolizes the reward of patience

 Serkeh (vinegar) symbolizes age

Tokhm-e Morgh Rangi (Colorful Eggs) symbolizes fertility

Mahi Ghermez (Goldfish) symbolizes life

Candle symbolizes Light

Spring Flowers

Ayneh (mirror) symbolizes reflection

Divan-e Hafez

Happy Nowruz! Happy Spring!سال نو مبارک 

Celebration and Traditions of Nowruz - The Seven S's of Sofreh-ye Haft Seen -1396

نرم نرمک میرسد اینک بهار

خوش به حال روزگار

ای دریغ از تو اگر چون گل نرقصی با نسیم

ای دریغ از من اگر مستم نسازد آفتاب

ای دریغ از ما اگر کامی نگیریم از بهار

~فریدون مشیری

نوروز Nowruz (New Day), the traditional 13-day Iranian celebration of the first day of spring (spring equinox), dates back to the Achaemenid Empire 6th century B.C. Nowruz is a celebration of nature and its revival and rejuvenation. The preparation for the Nowruz festival starts with خانه تکانی khaneh tekani, a thorough spring cleaning. Then there's چهار شنبه سوری Chahar Shanbeh Suri (Festival of fire) that's celebrated on the eve of the last Tuesday of the year. عید نوروز Eid-e Nowruz is a time for Iranians all across the world, as well as other neighboring countries of Iran that share this holiday, to gather together with their families and celebrate the Persian New Year.

هفت سین Haft seen spread is embedded with symbolism and each item on the سفره sofreh has a symbolic meaning. Overall, they represent life, health, prosperity, love, fertility, and patience. The Seven S's of Sofreh-ye Haft Seen include the following, سبزه Sabzeh (wheat or lentil sprouts), سرکه Serkeh (vinegar), سماق Somagh (sumac), سیر Seer (garlic), سنجد Senjed (fruit of oleaster tree), سکه  Sekeh(coins), سمنو Samanoo (wheat pudding) and سیب Seeb (apples). Fragrant سنبل sonbol (hyacinth), as well as other fresh spring flowers such as لاله laleh (tulips) and نرگس narges (narcissus), adorn the table. Other items on the sofreh (tablecloth) include ayneh (mirror), candles, colored eggs, and goldfish. Nowruz sweets and ajil (nuts and seeds) may also be found on the sofreh. Food is a major part of the Nowruz celebration and a traditional Persian New Year feast includes fresh herbs which represent earth, nature, and healthy eating. A typical Nowruz menu includes Sabzi Polow ba Mahi, Kookoo Sabzi, Reshteh Polow, Ash Reshteh, Sabzi Khordan, Mast o Khiar, and Salad Shirazi.

Nowruz Mobarak! Happy Nowruz!