LONDON, (CAIS) — Today, earth enters into the vernal equinox and thus spring begins. Iranians all over the world, irrespective of their religious creed or ethnicity, celebrate Norouz which literally means the dawn of a new day.
Norouz, considered the most important celebration of the year, is the greatest symbol of a Iranian cultural identity which has outlived all adversities and adversaries.
Norouz is celebrated not only in Iran, but also in former Iranian territories, known as the Greater-Iran including, Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, Bahrain, Dubai, Georgia, Iraq, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkey and Turkmenistan.
Iranian oral tradition takes Norouz as far back as 15,000 years — before the last ice age. King Jamshid (Avestan Yima) is said to be the person who introduced Norouz celebrations, which symbolises the transition of the Indo-Iranians from animal hunting to animal husbandry and a more settled life in human history. The Historians however, believe the celebration began circa 3,700 years ago with the Zoroastrian religion 2,300 years before Islam.
Some 12 centuries later, in 487 BCE, Darius the Great of the Achaemenian dynasty (550-330 BCE) celebrated the Norouz at his newly built Persepolis in Iran. A recent research shows that it was a very special occasion. The Persepolis was the place, the Achaemenian king received, on Norouz, his subjects from all over the civilised world. The walls of the great royal palace depict the scenes of the celebrations.
Iranians under the Parthian dynasty (248 BCE – 224 CE) continued celebrating their national and religious festive but we do not know the details. It should have, more or less, followed the Achaemenid pattern. During the Sasanian time (224-651 CE), preparations began at least 25 days before Norouz. Twelve pillars of mud-bricks, each dedicated to one month of the year, were erected in the royal court. Various vegetable seeds–wheat, barley, lentils, beans, and others–were sown on top of the pillars. They grew into luxurious greens by the New Year Day. The pillars were removed on the 16th day and the festival came to a close. The occasion was celebrated, on a lower level, by all peoples throughout the empire.
Since then, the peoples of the Iranian culture, whether Zoroastrian, Jews, Christians, Muslims, Baha'is, or others, have celebrated Norouz precisely at the time of vernal equinox, the first day of the first month, on about March 20/21.
However, holiday preparations began 15 days ago with the planting of lentil in a shallow bowl so the there is several inches of green for the celebration. The family cleans the house wearing new clothes to symbolize purification and the dawning of a new life.
A table, the haft-seen, is prepared with seven objects with the letter 'S' from the Persian alphabet, a mirror, a book revered by the family, which could be a Avesta, Bible, Qur'an, Torah, or Persian poetry such as Shahnameh (the Book of Kings) and Divan-e Hafez, and candles.
The Wednesday night before Norouz a bonfire is burning to celebrate Chahar Shanbeh Suri, Ember Wednesday. People of all ages are jumping over the fire yelling, "Fire, may your red come to me and my yellow to you," representing the bad fortune left behind and destroyed by the fire and prosperity and happiness for the New Year brought by the fire's light, warmth and cleansing power.
The night of Norouz the family is gathering around the haft-seen prepared with the seven symbols (the number of the items however can be higher):
| + | Serkeh (vinegar), symbolizing age and patience; |
| + | Somaq (sumac), its red colour represent the color of sunrise; with the appearance of the sun, Light replaces Darkness and Good conquers Evil; |
| + | Seer (garlic), symbolizing pacification and peace; |
| + | Samanu a sweetish paste, symbolizing sophistication. Samanu is made when common wheat sprouts are transformed and given new life as a sweet, creamy pudding and represents the ultimate sophistication of Persian cooking; |
| + | Sib (Apple), symbolizing the healthy and beautiful fruits of our world, both literally and allegorically; |
| + | Senjed (the dry fruit of the lotus tree), which represents love. It has been said that when lotus tree is in full bloom, its fragrance and its fruitemanates love; |
| + | Sabzi (sprouts), symbolizing new growth; |
| + | Sekkeh (coins), symbolizing prosperity; |
| + | Sonbol (hyacinth), symbolize natural beauty and aroma. |
The whole table which energises and involves all our senses symbolises all that is Good: truth, light, justice, reflection, warmth, life, love, happiness, production, prosperity, virtue, immortality, generosity, and nature.
The Sabzeh (sprouts) are kept until Sizda-be-dar, the 13th day of the New Year when families picnic out in the nature. It is on that day that Sabzeh should be thrown in running water, so that lethargy, lassitude and wariness are washed away.
Happy Norouz to all and May the Norouz bring happiness and peace to people around the globe; and as the saying in Persian goes, "May your everyday be Norouz."