Celebrations•Persian New Year {Norooz}•Pretty Please Design

PERSIAN NEW YEAR 2022 | NOROOZ 1401

March 10, 2022

Those who have followed my blog for the past decade know how much I LOVE Norooz {Persian New Year} ! I love Norooz for so many reasons. One of the reasons is that my culture makes up so much of who I am (in the most positive ways) and preserving my culture is something I hold very near and dear to me. As I became a mother, passing down our cultural traditions has been something I am very conscious about and I do my best to share what I can when I can. Norooz {Persian New Year} is one of those times in the year that marks the opportunity to celebrate many of our ancient and beautiful traditions. From Chaharshanbeh Suri, Norooz to Sizdeh Bedar. We celebrate for about a month all around the arrival of Spring and a bit thereafter.

If you are unfamiliar with Norooz {Persian New Year}, Norooz in its literal translation means New Day – “No” means New and “Ruz” means Day. It is observed based on the Persian calendar and it is a celebration of the beginning of Spring marking the first day of Spring as the first day of the new year. Norooz has Persian and Zoroastrian origin however there are many ethnic groups around the world that celebrate Norooz as it is based on the Gregorian calendar.

The way Iranian’s prepare for the arrival of Norooz is by setting and prettifying a table spread (also known as a Sofreh Haft-Seen) with symbolic and traditional items that represent many elements in our life and new year to come. Seven specific items are placed on the spread that start with the letter “S” or to be more specific the Persian letter “Seen”. Haft-Seen in its literal translation means 7 (Haft) seens. 7 “S’s”.

Below is a brief breakdown of the traditional Haft-Seen items:

{HAFTSEEN SPREAD}

{SABZEH} wheat or lentil sprouts growing in a dish – symbolizing growth and renewal
{SAMANOO} a sweet pudding made from wheat germ – symbolizing wealth
{SENJED} the dried fruit of the oleaster tree – symbolizing love
{SEER} garlic – symbolizing medicine
{SEEB} apples – symbolizing beauty and health
{SERKEH} vinegar – symbolizing age and patience
{SEKKEH} coins – prosperity and wealth
{SONBOL} hyacinth flower – symbolizing the start of spring
{SOMAGH} sumac – symbolizing the sunrise and sunset

{Other items that are used on the spread that don’t start with the letter “S”}

Mirror and lit candles – symbolizing self reflection, enlightenment and happiness
Decorated eggs – symbolizing fertility and family
A bowl with goldfish – symbolizing life
Holy book {depending on faith and optional} – symbolizing God’s blessing
Traditional pastries, nuts, and dried fruits – symbolizing food and feasts
Flowers, flowers, and more flowers

This year I had the opportunity and pleasure to style and design a Haft-Seen again with Shally Zomorodi LIVE on her Instagram and this time in her beautiful home where we shared our passion and love for our culture together. It was dynamic to be together and it was an afternoon for the books. I thought I loved Norooz, but Shally takes the beautiful cake on this one.

I couldn’t have pulled together my vision without my beautiful friend and florist Alina from Alina Fiore. Her florals exponentially elevate my vision time after time again, and she never ceases to amaze me.

I hope that you find inspiration and enjoy this annual Persian New Year post of mine. Wishing you and yours all the best to come.