Nowruz: Recipes and Traditions

Nowruz Haft Sin table setting — Image by Hamed Saber

The ancient Persian spring festival of Nowruz, Persian for “new day,” is considered the beginning of the New Year not only in Iran, but throughout Central Asia. The holiday falls on the first day of spring, usually March 21st, and celebrations continue for 13 days.

Origins of Nowruz

The history of Nowruz stretches back more than 2,600 years to the time of Zoroaster and the ancient Persian kings. While initially a religious festival, Nowruz is now mostly secular, though it is steeped in symbolism and rich traditions.

March begins with spring cleaning. Families plant small pots of wheat, barley or lentils that quickly germinate into lush green sprouts. Visits to family and friends are an obligation.

Hajji Firuz Singers

The arrival of Nowruz is announced in song by streetsingers called Hajji Firuz, men in red suits and blackface, tapping on a tambourine.

Red Wednesday

At sundown on the last Wednesday before the New Year, bonfires are lit for Chaharshanbe Suri, or Red Wednesday. Revelevers jump over the fires to cleanse themselves of fear and weakness. Children dress up in disguises to represent ancestors, and knock on doors for treats in a ritual similar to Halloween.

The Haft Sīn

The centerpiece of Nowruz observances is the Haft Sīn, a tablesetting of with seven symbolic foods all starting with the letter ‘S’. These often include wheat, barley or lentil sprouts (sabzeh), a wheat pudding (samanu), dried oleaster berries (senjed), garlic (sīr), apples (sīb), sumac berries (somaq) and vinegar (serkeh). The table also includes other items like candles, mirrors, colored eggs and even goldfish bowls with live fish.

Nowruz Foods

All kinds of sweets, pastries, nuts and sherbets are eaten in large amounts during Nowruz. Some of the more popular Nowruz dishes include:

Sabzi polo ba mahi — rice tinted vivid green with herbs and served with fried fish. Served on New Year’s day;
Kookoo sabzi — an herbed omelet;
Reshteh polo — chunks of lamb with rice and noodles;
Dolmeh barg — grape leaves stuffed with a mixture of rice and ground lamb; and
Shirin, or shekar polo — a sweet rice pilaf.

The final day of Nowruz is a time for families to drive to the countryside for day-long picnics. People revel in the fresh and warming air. Because the next day, it’s back to work.

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