Every year, Persians celebrate their new year not on January first, but on the first day of Spring.
The vernal equinox in Spring marks when the duration of night and day are the same. Hence the Latin term "equi" equal, and "nox" night. This year is especially exciting since the shape of the moon will be the roundest shape it has ever been in 150 years.
The March equinox marks the first day of various calendars including the Iranian calendar and the Baha'i calendar. The Bahá'í Naw-rúz "Naw," meaning new, and "ruz" meanind day, is stationary, the new year always starts at sunset Mars 20,whereas the ancieancient Iranian new year's festival of Naw Ruz can be celebrated March 20 or March 21, depending on the cycle of the moon. A
The Persian new year is very similar to the Chinese new year in that the celbrations acompany specific cultural rituals and symbols. Brand new bills of money are handed one by one to younger generations. A special table is set which has at least seven items started with the Persian letter "S".
- Sabzeh or sprouts, usually wheat or lentil representing rebirth.
- Samanu is a pudding in which common wheat sprouts are transformed and given new life as a sweet, creamy pudding and represents the ultimate sophistication of Persian cooking.
- Seeb means apple and represents health and beauty.
- Senjed the sweet, dry fruit of the Lotus tree, represents love. It has been said that when lotus tree is in full bloom, its fragrance and its fruit make people fall in love and become oblivious to all else.
- Seer which is garlic in Persian, represents medicine.
- Somagh sumac berries, represent the color of sunrise; with the appearance of the sun Good conquers Evil.
- Serkeh or vinegar, represents age and patience.
The events kick off with a pre-new year celebration dating back to ancient Zoroastrian traditions. On the Tuesday night before the new year. Small fires are made to jump over. In San Diego County, over 6,000 Persians gathered at Mariner's point to celebrate. There park was full of music, dancing, food vendors, and cultural booths. Small fires were made in fire pits. When one moves over the fire, they say a small rhyme which allows the fire to burn away all the bad essences from the prior year while lending its color and heat to provide good fortune for the year to come.
These festivities recall the story of creation and the ancient cosmology of Iranian and Persian people. It is also a holiday for Azarbaijan, Afhganistan, India, Turkey, and various countries of Central Asia, as well as among the Kurds. This year, the exact moment of "Saal Tahvil" or the vernal equinox will be at 4:21 p.m. PST. Typically, families sit together at this moment to give hugs and kisses.
The holiday has become so well known that last year, President Obama even made a public salutation too all those celebrating the Persian New Year.
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