Region | Iran
Tehran abuzz as people gear up to welcome Nourouz
Markets were crowded with shoppers buying new clothes, food and other decorative items.
- By Jumana Al Tamimi, GCC & Middle East Editor
- Published: 00:38 March 20, 2008
- People in Tehran buy flowers as they shop for the upcoming New Year.
- Image Credit: Reuters
Tehran: Markets were crowded with shoppers buying new clothes, food and other decorative items.
Women and men, young and old, queued outside pastry shops and famous Iranian nut shops waiting for their turn. Traffic on the already busy streets of Tehran got worse. Many travelled to their hometowns and cities to join their families celebrate Nourouz, the Iranian new year.
But marking the new year in Iran, which according to the solar calendar that Iran follows starts this morning at about 9am, is a special celebration.
Observing Nourouz, which means "New Day", is steeped in history, culture and tradition. Iranians feel it is the most important cultural event and they observe it in a very special way. Nourouz is also the first day of spring.
Celebrations reached their peak on Tuesday night: the eve of the last Wednesday of the year, as the loud sound of fireworks thundered in the air.
"The best thing you can do on Tuesday night is to stay indoors," an Iranian woman warned a visiting Arab journalist.
An Iranian explained that according to tradition, "Fire ... is a source for cleansing."
Preparations usually start a few weeks ahead of Nourouz when people clean every corner of their home.
However, the main tradition of Nourouz involves setting a table with seven items, the names of which begin with the letter "S" in Persian. The belief is that they symbolise health, wealth, freshness, abundance, purity and love.
These items are "senjid" (dried fruit of lotus tree as a symbol of love), "seer" (garlic as a symbol of health), "sumagh" (sumac berries represent the colour of sun and the victory of good over evil), "seeb" (apple, symbolising health and beauty), "seekeh" (a gold coin as a symbol of wealth) and "serkoh" (vinegar, a symbol of age and patience).
To these are added a mirror, which is believed to bring good luck, as well as the Quran and the Shahnameh, Iran's national epic poem by the revered poet Ferdowsi, which contains some of the most famous tales in Persian literature.
The official new year holiday extends for two weeks for what Iranians refer to as ‘Eid-e-Nourouz.'
Share this article
Popular in News
News Editor's choice
-
King Tut's tomb set for project
Observers note strange brown spots marring lavish wall paintings
-
Thieves caught with Dh6m in gold
Twenty-five gold bars were stolen from the luggage of a Malaysian tradesman
-
What to expect at the Dubai Airshow
We preview what types of aircraft to expect at the Dubai Airshow
