Nowroz, also known as Persian New Year, is a celebration of the spring equinox and the beginning of the new year in the Persian calendar. This holiday is celebrated by many people of Iranian, Afghan, and Tajik descent, as well as others who recognize the importance of this cultural tradition.Nowroz is a time for new beginnings, for cleaning and refreshing homes, and for spending time with loved ones.
As with many cultures the celebration centres around the table and the sharing of food with friends and loved ones. The Persians are no exception to this important event and their's is as interesting as it is colourful:
The Haftseen table is usually arranged a few days before Nowruz and remains in the house for the first 13 days of the New Year.
The seven items that are typically included on the Haftseen table all start with the letter "s" and are:
- Sabzeh - wheat, lentil or barley sprouts, which represent rebirth and growth.
- Samanu - sweet pudding made from wheat germ, which symbolizes affluence and fertility.
- Senjed - the dried fruit of the lotus tree, which represents love and affection.
- Sir - garlic, which symbolizes medicine and health.
- Sib - apples, which represent beauty and health.
- Somagh - sumac berries, which symbolize the sunrise and the warmth of life.
- Serkeh - vinegar, which represents age and patience.
Nowruz is also a time to reflect on the past year and set intentions for the coming year. In many ways, it is similar to the way that people in the West celebrate New Year's Day on January 1st.Nowroz is a particularly important time for those in the real estate industry, as it marks the beginning of the busiest season for buying and selling homes. The spring is a popular time for people to start looking for new homes, as the weather begins to warm up and people start to think about making a fresh start.
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