 At the exact moment of the Spring Equinox, the new day begins. It is called "Nowruz." This new day is celebrated as Persian New Year. It is the biggest holiday in Iran, ancient Persia. Nowruz is also celebrated in Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Tajikistan, central and south Asia, northwestern China, the Crimea, Albania, Bosnia, Serbia and the Republic of Macedonia. Nowruz is also celebrated by Ismalis, Alawites, Alevis, and Baha'is.
The centerpiece of the Nowruz celebration is the beautifully decorated table called the Haft Seen. A few days before the Spring Equinox this table is set with the traditional 7 dishes representing the 7 angelic heralds of Life. All the dishes start with the Persian letter "coin" which is transliterated as an "s".
The 7 dishes are:
1. Sabzeh- sprouted wheat or lentils, symbolizing re-birth.
2. Samanu- lentil or wheat germ pudding, symbolizing wealth.
3. Seeb- apples for health.
4. Senjed- dried fruit of the Oleaster tree, symbolizing love.
5. Seer- garlic for medicine.
6. Samaq- sumac berries, symbolizing the sunrise and the triumph of good over evil.
7. Serkeh- vinegar for age and patience.
In addition, the flowers of choice are tulips or hyacinths. Beautifully colored eggs painted with floral designs are also on the table. The most unusual table item is a bowl full of gold fish. The goldfish stand for the passing of the astrological sign of Pisces. Pisces is the last sign before the astrological sign of Aries which is the sign that signals the start of the Persian new year. The Nowruz celebration lasts 12 days with lots of visits between friends and family.
On the 13th day called Sezdah Bedar, an outdoor picnic is held where the green spouted Sabzeh is sprinkled about and the gold fish may be released in a river or stream. The 13th day is the day to throw out the bad luck of the old year. With Sezdah Bedar the Persian new year celebration comes to an end. Interestingly, Nowruz is considered a non religious holiday and is celebrated by everyone regardless of religious affiliation.
As a western astrologer, I was struck by how much the Nowruz celebrations parallel astrology. Iran, ancient Persia, is the place of origin for western astrology. The 7 dishes could relate to the 7 ancient planets. The 12 day celebration mirrors the 12 signs and constellations of the zodiac. In celebration of its origins, astrologers celebrate International Astrology Day on March 19th, the day before Nowruz.
This year the Northern Hemisphere Spring Equinox is on March 20, 2010 at 17:32 Universal Time, formerly Greenwich Mean Time. Many celebrations will be held around the world in all its major cities to welcome Nowruz. Please check with your local tourist office or chamber of commerce to find your local celebration. You can also check the following websites for Nowruz information, celebration locations, dates, and times.
websites: www.kudakon.com
www.farsinet.com/noruz
www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nowruz
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