-year astral of end the and life represents bowl a in (ﻧﻮروز) Nowruz (ﭼﮫﺎرﺷﻨﺒﻪ ﺳﻮری) Suri Chaharshanbeh Last Wednesday of Winter First Day of Spring picas, painted eggs, coins as a symbol of wealth, The celebration usually starts in the evening, with Nowruz which means “New Day” is the first day of and hyacinth. people gathering in their neighborhood, making solar calendar. Nowruz is the day of the vernal bonfires, and jumping over them. The origin of the (spring) equinox, and marks the beginning of spring festival dates back to more than 3,500 years ago, in the Northern Hemisphere. when ancient Iranians celebrated last five days of the year in honor of their deceased loved ones. The festival has also a custom similar to Trick-or- treating, in which people travel door-to-door to bang spoons against plates or bowls and receive treats. The custom is called Qashoq zani, translated as "Banging spoons."

(ﻋﯿﺪ دﯾﺪﻧﯽ) Didani Eyd Another One Visiting (ھﻔﺖ ﺳﯿﻦ) Haft-Seen Seven S’s During the Nowruz holiday, Iranians traditionally Haft-Seen is a tabletop (sofreh) arrangement of visit their families, friends, and neighbors in the seven symbolic items all starting with the letter form of short house visits, which are usually the visit will youth the Typically, alphabet. reciprocated. Persian the in (س) Seen The Haft-Seen items are selected from the elders first, and the elders return their visit later.

up catch and meet to time the is this many, For mung barley, wheat, – (ﺳﺒﺰه) Sabzeh list: following (ﺷﺐ ﺳﺎل ﻧﻮ) Eve Year’s New bean or lentil sprouts growing in a dish - with their families and friends. They drink tea, eat Dinner with Family & Friends joy of full year a wish and nuts, mixed and sweets sweet – (ﺳﻤﻨﻮ) Samanu rebirth, symbolizing Herb Rice with Fish & Persian Herb Frittata pudding made from wheat germ – symbolizing and prosperity for each other. olive wild oleaster dried – (ﺳﻨﺠﺪ) Senjed affluence, – garlic – (ﺳﯿﺮ) Seer love, symbolizing – fruit (ﺳﯿﺐ) Seeb health, and medicine the symbolizing – (ﺳﻤﺎق) Somac beauty, symbolizing – apple – sumac fruit – symbolizing (the color of) sunrise, and age old symbolizing – vinegar – (ﺳﺮﮐﻪ) Serkeh patience. The following items may also appear on the Haft- Seen table as ornaments or for the sake of completeness: a mirror and two candles, a goldfish Countries Celebrating Nowruz nature greener. Sizdah Be-dar marks the end of the The United Nation's General Assembly recognized Nowruz celebrations. the International Day of Nowruz in 2010, Amu Nowruz and Naneh Sarma Persian New describing it as a spring festival of Iranian origin, Papa Nowruz & Grandma Frost which has been celebrated for over 3,000 years. Amu Nowruz is a fictional figure in Iranian folklore. However, the celebration of Nowruz in not limited According to the folklore, he appears annually at to Iran and it is a national holiday in several the beginning of spring to mark the beginning of Year Festival countries including Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Iraq, Nowruz. He is the husband of Naneh Sarma, who Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and etc. shares a traditional love story with him, in which they can meet each other only once a year.

(ﺳﯿﺰده ﺑﺪر) Be-dar Sizdah 13th Day of Spring The Haft-Seen table remains in the house for thirteen days after Nowruz. The thirteenth day of Nowruz Celebration at the White House spring is called “Sizdah Be-dar”, which in Persian Since 2014, the White House annually celebrates literally means “getting rid of the thirteenth”, as Nowruz in attendance of notable Iranian- thirteen is known to be unlucky. Americans. Annually, the president also sends out On this day, families leave their houses to join the a Nowruz message to the Iranian-Americans and nature and picnic outdoors, enjoy food, singing, the Iranians in Iran and globally through a video. and dancing with other families. New York Persian Parade Lie of the Thirteen: Lie of the Thirteen is the Iranian This is an annual parade held in New York City that version of the April Fools’ Day. focuses on the culture, arts, and history of Iran. Throwing away the greenery: A ritual performed at The colorful parade includes 15 floats, which each the end of the picnic is to throw away the greenery represent different Persian festivities or a figure (Sabzeh) collected for Haft-Seen, particularly into a from Iranian history accompanied by folkloric th running water as a symbolic act of making the dance. This year, the 14 Persian parade will be held on April 30th.