Persians Welcome the New Year at Spring Equinox: Goldfish, Colored Eggs, and Seven Dishes for a Reunion Feast

Tourism Center / Compiled from international news reports

The first day of renewal each year marks the beginning of the 13-day Persian festival "Nowruz," celebrating the arrival of spring and the proof that winter will eventually fade away. The Persian word "Nowruz" translates to “new day.” At 12:57 PM on March 20, the spring equinox, as the sun crosses the equator, millions of Iranian families gather around a ceremonial table (haftseen). People of all ages join hands to count down to the new year and cheer "Eide Shoma Mobarak!" (Happy New Year). Each household prepares a variety of ingredients along with newly sprouted green shoots to make a delicious and eagerly anticipated reunion meal.

▲Persian New Year is here — welcome the rebirth of nature!Iran Tourism(Photo / Sourced from fan page)

In every home, the following seven ingredients (the number seven symbolizes luck) are prepared, all starting with the letter S in Persian, each representing renewal and flourishing:

Seeb (apple): beauty
Seer (garlic): health
Serkeh (vinegar): patience
Sonbol (hyacinth): spring
Samanu (sweet pudding): abundance
Sabzeh (sprouts): rebirth
Sekeh (coins): prosperity

In addition, many families also place the Quran, poetry books, mirrors and candles (symbolizing the future), a bowl of goldfish (representing vitality), colored eggs (symbolizing fertility), and various sweets and fruits on the table to add more elegance and fun to the feast.

▲Delicious food, the Quran, goldfish, mirrors, candles, and colored eggs symbolize a wonderful year ahead!

(Photo / Sourced from Iran Tourism fan page)

Norwruz is also a time for spring cleaning, buying new clothes, visiting relatives and friends to strengthen bonds. On the thirteenth day (the number thirteen symbolizes bad luck), the celebration officially ends. People go for picnics by the river and take the green sprouts from the table, casting them into flowing water to send away all the misfortunes of the new year.

(Photo / Sourced from Iran Tourism fan page)