Happy Nowruz! Learn how to celebrate Persian New Year

People around the world are celebrating more than 3,000 years of traditions with Nowruz, or Persian New Year. The holiday takes place on the spring equinox and unifies more than 300 million people internationally of all faiths.

Hayedeh Lopez has lived in the Coachella Valley for five years, but she’s been celebrating Nowruz her entire life. She shared her traditions with News Channel 3, showing off her haft-sin, a display in each home with seven key items, all starting with the letter “s”. Here are those and what they represent, according to Lopez:

Sabzeh – wheat, barley, mung bean, or lentil sprouts, representing rebirth Samanu – sweet pudding, representing wealth Senjed – Persian dried fruit, representing love Serkeh – vinegar, representing aging and patience Seeb – apple, representing beauty Seer – garlic, representing medicine Somāq- sumac, representing the horizon

Tables can include extra items like fish for life, coins for wealth, painted eggs for fertility, a mirror for reflectivity, hyacinths for spring, family photos, and a religious text or special book.

The display stays up for twelve days, one for each month. Lopez said on the thirteenth day, the sprouts will be released into a body of water, representing rebirth.

Recognition of the holiday also includes time for spring cleaning. Lopez said a special meal of rice, vegetables, and fish is also prepared. There is also time allocated for paying respect to family members.

“When I was a child, my grandmother was telling me this is when the earth was made from the god, so this is how we celebrate and thak him for every single day that he gave us and will give us in the future,” said Lopez.

Despite the reference to God, Lopez said this holiday transcends religion, unifying people internationally form all faiths on the spring equinox; a time for renewal, forgiveness, and acceptance.

From Lopez and all of us at News Channel 3, Happy Nowruz.