Nowruz

Nowruz is the Persian New Year, which begins each year at the time of the spring equinox in Iran, and is celebrated for two weeks. The word Nowruz means New Day in Persian. It’s an ancient Persian belief that creation of the world took place on the first day of spring.

Agenda Today:
1. Prepare the sabzeh
2. Dye a few eggs
3. Make Koloocheh Cookies
4. Set up a haft sin
5. Nowruz Ceremony

1. Prepare the sabzeh: 

The sabzeh is a shallow bowl of sprouts, a symbol of new life. Lentils or wheat are traditional, but I use grass seed. Today I will wrap the sprouts up with a red ribbon. 

2. Dye a few eggs: 

Yep, colored eggs are a traditional part of Nowruz. The favorite colors are red, green and yellow, but all colors are used. 

3. Make Koloocheh Cookies:

Koloocheh is a Persian cookie with a rich date and walnut filling, baked for special occasions. 

Ingredients:

• 3-1/2 c. flour
• 1/8 tsp. each baking soda and powder
• 1 tsp. cumin
• 2/3 c. unsalted butter
• 2 Tbsp. vegetable oil
• 1/2 c. water,
• 1/4 c. rosewater
• 2 Tbsp. honey
• 2 c. pitted dates
• 1 c. walnuts
• 2 Tbsp. tahini
• 1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1. Combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, and cumin; whisk together. Make a well, and add unsalted butter and vegetable oil; mix well with your hands. 

2. Add water, rosewater, and honey. Continue to knead for 5 minutes, then cover with plastic and rest 20 minutes.

3. Meanwhile, make the filling: Combine pitted dates, walnuts, tahini, and cinnamon, and blend in a blender to make a paste. 

4. Oil and flour a pan. Preheat oven to 350° F. 

5. Divide the dough into 8 parts. Pat each ball of dough into a flat disk and put a scoop of filling in the center. 

Fold the edges over and pat it closed. 

6. Press each cookie flat with a plate or a cookie stamp,






and poke a few holes with a chop stick.

7. Place on the pan, brush with oil, and bake 25-30 minutes. 

4. Set up a haft sin:

A few days before Noruz every household spreads a tablecloth on the carpet or table called the Sofreh-e Haft Sin, or Cloth of Seven Dishes.

Traditionally the cloth is white, but we use an appliqued cloth that my art class students made. We were inspired by Persian embroidered suzani.

After we spread the suzani out on the table, we have a hunt to find the symbolic items to put on the haft sin table- including seven bowls filled with seven symbolic foods, each beginning with the Persian letter sheen.

• Sharab- wine, for happiness
• Shakar- sugar, for sweetness
• Shir- milk, for nourishment
• Shireh- fruit syrup (usually grape), for vigor
• Shahd- honey, for productive teamwork
• Shirini- candy, more sweetness
• Shir berenj- rice pudding, for health

Other symbols of spring are also placed on the table; each family has its own traditions, but the common items are: 

Haft sin from 2016

• Sabzeh sprouts, for new life
• A mirror to reflect the images of creation 
• A candle for each child, to represent wisdom and happiness 
• A Holy Book or book of poetry
• Spring flowers 
• Colored eggs, for fruitfulness 
• Coins, for prosperity 
• Rose water for healing 
• Cookies for a sweet life

5. Nowruz Ceremony:
Family and friends gather to wait for the Nowruz ceremony, which traditionally happens at the exact moment of the equinox. Everyone greets each other with "Nowruz Mubarak!" - Happy New Day! 

Next the oldest person holds up a mirror and each person looks into the mirror and smiles. The mirror is for reflecting a person's past, and reminding a person to reflect on future goals and pledges. In Zoroastrian theology, the soul receives a reflection of a person's thoughts, words and deeds.