A New Day

Iranians celebrated the Persian New Year on Friday. Nowruz or “new day” is marked on the first day of spring. One of the Nowruz traditions is to set a table that includes a variety of symbolic items, such as a mirror (sky), an apple (earth), candles (fire), and a goldfish (animals). Rose water is said to have magical, cleansing powers, wheat or barley sprouts symbolize rebirth and painted eggs represent humans and fertility, coins are for prosperity. The table would not be complete without traditional Iranian pastries such as baghlava, toot, and naan-nokhodchi and a book of poems from one of the great Persian poets such as Hafiz. One of our students, who is Iranian, set this beautiful table at work this week. Happy Nowruz and welcome spring.