Turmeric & Saffron: Sabzeh

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March 20, 2018

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 had 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

March 23, 2014

Haft Seen Photos - Nowruz 2014

Wishing you all a very happy, healthy, and prosperous Nowruz - Persian New Year. After a few days of preparation and Nowruz-related activities, I finally got a chance to gather all of my haft seen photos and share some of them with you. For me, there's such a joy in photographing a haft seen table, especially with loved ones included. For more information about Nowruz and the haft seen you might want to check out this article, Persian New Year's Table Celebrates Nature's Rebirth Deliciously on NPR's Blog.

Sabzeh

Seeb

Senjed

Somagh

Samanoo

Serkeh

Seer

Sekkeh

Tokhm-e Morgh Rangi

Mahi Ghermez

Also, here are some haft seen photos from previous years:

Haft Seen - 2013

Haft Seen - 2012

Haft Seen - 2010

!نوروزتان خجسته و پیروز باد - Happy Nowruz!

March 22, 2013

Haft Seen Photos - Eid-e Nowruz!

Happy Nowruz (Persian New Year) everyone and welcome to 1392 of the Iranian calendar. I wish you all a very happy, healthy and prosperous New Year. I have written about Nowruz in the past and photographed every *seen* (s) on the haft seen table. I truly enjoy setting up the haft seen table as I try to seize the moment contemplating the symbolic meaning behind each item and to take in a positive energy that surrounds this uplifting ambiance. This is the moment to count our blessings and with every blessing comes the responsibility of giving back, even if it's very little.

سنبل - Sonbol (hyacinth) and other spring flowers

سبزه - Sabzeh (sprouts): Representing rebirth and fertility

سنجد - Senjed (Dried Fruit of the Lotus Tree): Representing love

سماق - Somagh (Sumac): Representing the spice of life

سیر - Seer (Garlic): To ward off bad omens

سکه - Sekkeh (Coins): Representing wealth and prosperity

سمنو - Samanoo (Sweet Pudding made with germinated wheat): Representing the reward of patience

سرکه - Serkeh (Vinegar): Representing age

ماهی قرمز - Mahi Ghermez (Goldfish): Representing life

سیب - Seeb (Apple): Representing natural beauty

نارنج / پرتقال (Seville orange) or orange in Water: Representing the earth floating in space

تخم مرغ رنگی - Tokhme Morgh Rangi (painted eggs): Representing Fertility

And here's a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the challenges of food photography starring Cooper, my daughter's cat.

Well, there goes my sabzeh!

Nowruz Mobarak! Happy Spring!

March 22, 2012

Happy Nowruz! A Basic Guide to Celebrating Persian New Year!

For those who are interested in learning about the ancient Persian New Year celebration, this post is a simple and brief step by step guide on how to prepare for Nowruz from before, during and after the Sal-e Tahvil (Vernal Equinox). It may be somewhat late to write about these tips now but I hope future readers will find it useful.

Events leading up to Nowruz:

Khaneh Tekani: Cleaning your house from top to bottom, to renew and revive your home in time for the Nowruz celebrations. When to start your khane tekani depends on what you plan to do. It may take several hours or several days depending on the number of rooms, how thorough you want to clean and how much time you have. For more information, please see the following links: Spring cleaning Iranian style and also Spring Cleaning.
Growing Sabzeh: The best time to grow your seeds is about two weeks before Nowruz. It takes about two weeks to have a beautiful sabzeh. It may not turn out to be a tall sabzeh but it will have a better chance of lasting longer until sizdah bedar. However, if you prefer a long sabzeh on your haft-seen table start your seed germination a few days earlier. For more information please see the link on growing sabzeh.
Making Samanoo: Samanoo (wheat pudding)
Chahar Shanbeh Suri: Chahar shanbeh suri is celebrated on the eve of the last Tuesday of the year, where small bonfires are made and people jump over the fire while singing, "Zardi-e man az to, Sorkhi-e to az man" (my sickness and problems are all yours and your warmth and energy is mine). Please see the following link for more information on chahar shanbeh suri and aji chaharshanbeh suri.
Buying New Clothes: Buying new clothes and shoes for the children are part of the Nowruz tradition.
Eidi: Remember to set aside eidi for the children. They usually receive gifts or a small sum of money from their parents and close relatives such as grandparents, aunts and uncles.
Sofreh Haft-Seen: Gather everything you'll need for your haft-seen spread, including the seven items that start with the letter seen (S) in Persian, Spring flowers (Hyacinth, tulips), mirror, candle, goldfish, sweets and ajil (mixed nuts). For more information please see the following link on haft-seen and preparing for Nowruz.

Sal-Tahvil

Gathering around the Haft-Seen Table: At the exact time of the vernal equinox, gather around your beautiful haft seen table with your children in their new outfits and celebrate the arrival of the new year and the rejuvenation of nature.
Nowruz Lunch or Dinner: The traditional Nowruz menu includes sabzi polow mahi, sabzi polow, mahi, kookoo/kuku sabzi, reshteh polow.

After the Sal-Tahvil

Did o Bazdid: During the 13 days of Nowruz celebration it is customary to visit your close family members and relatives starting with the eldest and the closest and they too visit you back in your home. Have your fruit platter, ajil, sweets and freshly brewed tea ready!
Sizdah Bedar: Spending a day outdoors on the 13th day of Farvardin (the first month of the Iranian solar calendar) with family and friends to get rid of bad luck. Please see the following link on sizdah bedar.

I would like to share some of the pictures I took of our haft-seen table the other day. I wish you all a very happy Persian New Year! May the new year bring you peace, tranquility, health and happiness.