Haftseen for Norooz

Today’s share is a recipe for a very special Persian table setting called “haftseen”, a symbolic setting for the Persian New Year | Norooz. Persian days follow a solar calendar. Norooz is a non-secular holiday that happens at the exact moment of the turning of seasons from winter to spring. The Haftseen table is the center of this holiday filled with sentiments of hope and renewal. The Persian new year festivities last for 13 days! The haftseen table setting is so significant that family and friends light candles and gather around it to bring in the new year.

The haftseen is the main decor or table setting we have for our spring holiday. Now for a quick description on the etymology of the name of this day or holiday. Since the Farsi language uses Arabic letters, I will explain the meaning using phonetic spellings of Farsi words and definitions.

“haft” means 7 and “seen” is the letter in the Farsi language making the “s” sound

“Haftseen” (also known as “haft-seen”, “haftsin”, and “haft-sin”) = 7 “seens”

“Sofreh” = a special table setting or table spread.

“Sofreh Haftseen” = Table setting with seven things that start with s!

In Farsi, we call the Persian new year “Norooz” (also phonetically spelled “Norouz”, “Nowruz”, “Nowrouz”, “Noruz”).

No = new

Rooz = day

Norooz = a new day!

Words that symbolize the special items displayed on the sofreh haftseen:

renewal

growth
health
hope

healing
love
fertility

reflection
beauty

Sofreh Haftseen for Norooz is the table setting for the Persian new year.

Norooz is a big day for Persians! There are traditions both before the big day as well as in the aftermath.

Each year, Norooz falls at the exact moment of the vernal equinox when day and night are at equal lengths. In our family, we celebrate the Persian new year on a weekend day close to the first day of spring. Most years this date falls between March 19th and March 21st in western, or Gregorian calendars.

It all starts with a fun pre-amble known as “Chahar Shanbeh Souri”, or the Festival of Light and Fire. In Farsi, this first event of the New Year festivities Chahar Shanbeh Souri translates as ‘Fire Wednesday’. For more information about the customs around Fire Wednesday, hop over to our post where we share a healthy snack mix enjoyed on this special day called Ajeel | Persian Trail Mix.

Ajeel Persian Trail Mix with dried figs dried mulberries toot walnuts almonds yellow raisins pistachios for Chahar Shanbeh Souri

Ajeel Persian Trail Mix Blend

The Persian new year is a collection of events and customs that lasts 13 days! On the 13th day, it is considered bad luck to stay indoors. Many families have picnics and play outdoor games on Sizdah Behdar (translated in Farsi 13th day outdoors). If the weather is not quite warm enough, a little fresh air or a short walk does the trick. The point is to get outside for cleansing and renewal.

Common customs during Norooz:

spring cleaning – in Farsi “Khaneh Tekani” which translates literally as “shaking the house”!
purchasing new clothes and shoes – in old custom, this is the one and only time children get new things each year
setting the Haft-seen table with 7 symbolic items that start with the Farsi letter “seen”/words start with the “s” sound

feasting – a feast consisting of herb rice and fish (see our recipe for Marinated Salmon), delicious Aash Reshteh | Persian Noodle Soup and kookoo sabzi, an herb frittata (see our easy recipe for Kookoo Sabzi Quiche Muffins)
giving cash gifts (in Farsi called “eidee”/ ‘aidee’) to children

About 2 weeks before the new year, many families begin growing “sabzeh” which I like to call Persian grass. Sabzeh can be sprouted from lentils, mung beans, wheat, or even chia. There are many modern and creative ways to grow and display sabzeh.

My favorite method is sprouting from chia seeds – I find it to be the easiest and most forgiving method. It also grows quickly with cute clover-shaped grass.