Mehregan

Today we talked about what friendship means, then my
 students had fun sprinkling herbs on each other's heads. 

Mehregan (pronounced ‘meh-re-gahn’), is an ancient Persian festival that began as a feast for the sun god, Mehr. Mehr (also known as Mithra) was responsible for knowledge, love, friendship, promises, and the light. The word "mehr" in Farsi means kindness.

Zoroastrianism took hold in Persia in around 1400 BCE and Mehr was reduced from a God to an angel, but the festival of Mehregan remained, and is now celebrated as a day of thanksgiving, usually on October 1st; people decorate their houses, put on new clothes, and visit their relatives and friends, wishing each other a good harvest, long life, and happiness.

Zoroastrians in Iran and India have a community feast today, with a large pot of noodle stew called âsh-e. The stew is always prepared by everyone together because the Avesta (the Zoroastrian holy book) says that each should bring whatever they can afford- meat, vegetables, lentils, grain, or firewood.

Agenda Today:
1. Journal:
Today I like to focus my thoughts on how well I honor the promises and commitments of friendship.

In what condition are my friendships? How might I be a better friend?

List the friends that I want to nurture and pay special attention to this month, those I feel distant from or whom I want to understand better and appreciate more.

2. Make soup:
Aash-e-Reshte, a delicious, rich noodle soup, is the meal normally served on this occasion. The recipe is here.





Part of the fun when we make this soup is the anticipation- I ask my students to each bring a few of the ingredients, which get taken out of backpacks after school and gathered on the table. 

Each student prepares the foods they contributed- peeling carrots and potatoes, chopping spinach and parsley.


3. Ceremony:
Zoroastrians set a very elaborate table display for this celebration. I don’t even try to duplicate it, but I do try to include these Zoroastrian symbols:

• Mirror – symbolizing Sky
• Apple – symbolizing Earth
• Candles – symbolizing Fire
• Rose water – symbolizing Water
• Seeds (such as peas, beans, and lentils) – symbolizing last year's harvest and next year's plan.

We also set out flowers and incense, all surrounded by branches of herbs from my garden.

We gathered around the table, lit the candles, and had a moment of silent prayer, to review and rededicate promises we have made to our families and friends. Then we had fun tearing up sage and lavendar leaves to sprinkle on each other’s heads, to wish everyone good health and happy life.

And then we ate our soup! (We put the pot down for Sadie, because Zoroastrians revere dogs and always make sure they get soup on this day.)