Iranian Nurses Association
Iranian New Year
Nowruz
In harmony with the rebirth of nature, the Iranian New Year Celebration, or Nowruz, always begins on the first day of spring.Nowruz ceremonies
are symbolic representations of two ancient concepts
the End andthe
Rebirth; or Good and Evil. A few
weeks before the newyear,Iranians clean
and rearrange
their homes.They make
new clothes,
bake pastries and
germinate
seeds as sign of
renewal.The ceremonial
cloth
is setup in
each
houshold.
Haftseen
A few days prior to the New Year, a special cover is spread on to the Persian carpet or on a table in every Persian household.
This ceremonial table is called cloth of seven dishes,
(each one begining with the Persian letter sinn ).
The number seven has been sacred in Iran
sincethe ancient times, and the seven
dishes stand for the seven angelic
heralds of life-rebirth,
health, happiness,
prosperity, joy,
patience, and
beauty.
Haji Firouz The New Year Messenger
The symbolic dishes consist of:
Sabzeh or sprouts, usually
wheat or lentil representing rebirth.
Seer, which is garlic in Persian, represents medicine.
Seeb,means apple and represents health and beauty.
Serkeh or vingar, represents age and patience.
Somaq, sumac berries,represen-ts the color of sunrise; with the appearance of the sun Good conquers Evil.
Senjed, the sweet, dry fruit of the Lotus tree, represents love. It has been said that when lotus tree is in full bloom, its fragrance and its fruit make people fall in love and become oblivious to all els
Samanu, is a pudding in which commonwheat sprouts are transformed
and given new life as a sweet, creamy pudding and represents the ultimate sophistication of Persian cooking.
To reconfirm all hopes and wishes expressed by the traditional foods, other elementss and sym-bols are also on the sofreh:
Coin; a few coins placed on the sofreh represent prosperity and wealth.
Egg , a basket of painted eggs represents fertility.
Nuts, represent of love.
Sweets, represent of New life as a Sweet.
Mirror, a mirror which represents the images and reflections of Creation as we celebrate a new the ancient Persian traditions and beliefs that creation took place on the first day of spring.
Hyacinth, a pot of flowering hyacinth or narcissus is also set on the sofreh.
Esfand, nearby is a brazier for burning wild rue ,a sacred herb whose smoldering fumes ward off evil spirits
Candlestick, on either side of the mirror are two candlesticks holding a flickering candle for each child in the family. The candles represent enlightenment and happiness.
Seville Orange, a Seville Orange floating in a bowl of water represents the earth floating in space.
Goldfish, a Goldfish in a bowl represents life and the end of astral year-picas.
Rose Water, a flask of rose water known for its magical cleansing power, is also incluted on the tablecloth.
Clock, represent a particular point of time at which somthing takeplace.
Samovar, sign of Prosperity and a very strong Tea Mixture.
Ghalyan or Water Pipe, for smoking. It is an ancient Tradition enjoyed.
Fruits, represent health and Beauty.
Quran, Acquire knowledge and wisdom ( Moslem people prefer quaran ).Guidance and Direction.
Bread, Blessing, Abundance and Prosperity.
Fal e Ghahveh, Coffee reading or Tasseomancy, Guidance and Direction
Haji Firuz
was a man disguise himslef with makeup and wear brightly red clothes of satin who went from street to street singing, dancing, and beating a tambourine on New Year's eve. He was usually accompanied by one or two other persons were playing Kettle drums, and Trumpets to spread good cheer and the news of the coming New Year. According to which sang from the streets to inform people that spring had come and that winter has gone. In return, people gave him gifts or money for the good news that he brought.
Haji firuzam, baleh, sali yeh roozam, baleh,
Beshkan, beshkaneh, beshkan
,man nemishkanam Beshkan
Arbabe khodam salamo alikom,
Arbab khodam
saretwe bala kon
Arbabe kodam
boz boze ghandi, Arbabe khodam chera nemikhandi.
Beshkan, beshkaneh, beshkan
,man nemishkanam, Beshkan
Inja gher bedam yar geleh dareh,
onja gher bedam yar geleh dareh,
in asheghe be chareh cheghar hoseleh dareh.
Arbabe khodam goli be jamalet, az koja begam Vasfe kamalet
Arbabe khodam zar daloo alak
Aideh hamegi boovad Mobarak.
Beshkan, beshkaneh, beshkan
,man nemishkanam, Beshkan!!!!!!!!!!,
Chahar Shanbeh Soori
Last Wednesday of the year called Chahar Shanbeh soori. On the eve of last Wednesday of the year, literally the eve of Red Wednesday or the eve of the celebration, bonfires are lit in public places and people leap over the flames, shouting:
Give me Your beautiful red color
And take back My sickly pallor!
With the help of fire and light symbols of good, we hope to see our way through this unlucky night - the end of the year - to the arrival of springs longer days. Traditionally, it is believed that the living were visited by the spirits of their ancestors on the last day of the year. Many people specially children, wrap themselves in shrouds symbolically reenacting the visits.
Gashog-Zani
By the light of the bonfire, they run through the streets banging on pots and pans with spoons called Gashog-Zani to beat out the last unlucky Wednesday of the year, while they knock on doors to ask for treats. Indeed, Halloween is a Celtic variation of this night.
In order to make wishes come true, it is customary to prepare special foods and distribute them on this night. Noodle Soup a filled Persian delight, and mixture of seven dried nuts and fruits, pistachios, roasted chic peas, almond, hazelnuts, figs, apricots, and raisins.
Fal-Gush
this is another ritual in which someone makes a wish and stands at the corner of an intersection, or on a terrace or behind a wall. That person will know his fortune when he overhears conversation of a passerby.
Siezdeh Badar
The Nowruz ceremonies end on the 13 day of the first month of the new year.
On that day almost all the people leave the towns and villages and spend
a day in the countryside enjoying the beautiful weather that
accompanies the change of seasons. During this
outing the sabzeh that had been displayed
and with it, all the sinns, worries,and
concerns of the past are thrown
into running water. The new
year then begins with
a fresh start on the
14th day of
the month.
With regard to the sabzeh, it should be noted that some rural folk might plant
the sabzeh rather the throw it into running water.It should also
be
noted that one should not touch other peoples' sabzeh
on
that day.Before the sabzeh is thrown,
girls at the age of being married and
unmarried women often tie
the blades of the
sabzeh saying.
Sizdeh Bedar
Sal-i digar,
khone-i showhar
Bacheh beh baghal
( Let next year find me in my housb's house with a baby in my arm.)