Much of what seems to divide us should instead unite us: the (not only) Iranian secular New Year celebration called Norooz shares many features in common with spring celebrations in Judaism and Christianity, as well as with South Indian spring planting season festivals. Like the Seder table, the Norooz table, called the Haft Seen (seven "s") is a symbolic table featuring seven important items, including herbs, though here with different meaning. Like the Christian eastern celebration, colored eggs are a key component of the Haft Seen table. And like the South Indian spring celebration, flowers play a sacred role in Norooz festivities. Every family and every person creates a different Norooz table to his or her own liking, but all of them celebrate the end of winter, the reawakening of the earth, the beginning of the growing season, and the beauty of togetherness in the winter months. The celebration officially occurs on March 21st, or the exact moment of the spring equinox, but the four Tuesdays leading up to Norooz are celebrations of the Earth's elements, too. In Azerbaijan, they are called Water, Fire, Wind and Earth Tuesdays, celebrating with different games and rituals the elements that govern life on earth. Back to the Norooz table, our Haft Seen! Here are some of the "s" items that we included: #sabzeh (sprouted herbs, to celebrate growth and life), #sonbol (hyacinth, the very symbol of spring, welcoming the season with sweet fragrance), #seeb (Apple, for beauty), #somaq (sumac, the color of sunrise), #serkeh (vinegar, symbolizing patience and the wisdom of age) and #samanu (sweet pudding made from wheat germ, to symbolize wealth in the new year). Also a symbol of hope for wealth in the new year is a dish of shiny coins. The mirror is a mystic symbol of the invisible world, the world of higher understanding and inner reflection. The candles are symbols of life and vitality, as are the goldfish, and an open book of poetry is a sign of hope for more wisdom and beauty in the new year as well. The eggs represent fertility and abundance. The sweets are, of course, for a sweet new year!
