Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Get out the gold fish



And celebrate!

Happy Nowruz to our Iranian, Kurdish and Middle Eastern readers.

PersianParadox explains about this springtime feast,

Nowruz literally meaning "new day" is the most precise timing for the commencement of spring according to the solar calendar. The Iranian new year coincides with the Equinox and the true shift in the earth's axis which leads to a change in climate and season. Nowruz is celebrated in many Central Asian countries where festivities continue for weeks. As nature welcomes change and new life, Nowruz is the time for a revival of spirit and body. After weeks of Khanetakani or major housekeeping efforts, Iranians prepare a table of specialties beginning with S, or Haft Sin. Nowruz is a time for friendship and forgiveness, it is a time for cherishing the blessings of life and nature.


The feast has been celebrated for over 3000 years, and dates back to ancient Persia... more information HERE.
In addition to these there are representatives of the other kingdoms sustaining life on earth, i.e., products from the animal kingdom in the form of cheese and yogurt, the plant kingdom in the form of flour, vegetables, rice, and of the water kingdom in the form of the goldfish are also placed on the sofreh. Pomegranates and pussy willows also are sometimes seen. The latter is especially important as it blossoms at this very time of the year.



and no, we don't celebrate it in the Philippines, but there are a lot of Iranian students and businesspeople who hold private celebrations LINK

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