Nowruz

Nowruz is the Persian New Year celeberition. It begins on the spring equinox and marks the beginning of Farvardin, the first month of the Solar Hijri calendar. The day is celebrated  on or around the date of 21 March on the Gregorian calendar.

The word Nowruz is a combination of Persian words  now—meaning "new"—and ruz—meaning "day".

Typically, before the arrival of Nowruz, family members gather around the Haft-sin table and await the exact moment of the March equinox to celebrate the New Year.

Haft-sin (seven things beginning with the letter S) are:

1.Sabze (wheat, barley, mung bean, or lentil sprouts grown in a dish)

2. Samanu (sweet pudding made from wheat germ)

3. Senjed (Oleaster)

4. Serke (Vinegar)

5. Sib (Apple) 

6. Sir (Garlic) 

7. Somāq (Sumac)

The Haft-sin table may also include a mirror, candles, painted eggs, a bowl of water, goldfish, coins, hyacinth, and traditional confectioneries. A "book of wisdom" such as the Quran, Bible, Avesta, the Šāhnāme of Ferdowsi, or the divān of Hafez may also be included.

Nowruz was added to the UNESCO List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2010.