March 22, 2016

• Haft-Siin

  March 21, 2016, Prescott-

  

  The Haft-Sin Table of Naw-Ruz

  As I mentioned yesterday, this table is an integral part of the Naw-Ruz, or "New Day" festival.  It is common to Iranians of Zoroastrian background, Kurds, Parsees and Baha'is, the world over.  It has been adopted by Shia Muslims in Iran, and by the people of Afghanistan, as well.

  Thanks to http://altreligion.about.com/od/ritualsandpractices/a/haftsin.htm, I was able to learn further about the elements of the table.

  Clockwise, from lower left, are:

  Sib (apples)- symbolizing beauty and health;

  Senjed(floral water)- symbolizing love; (Sometimes, these are oleaster fruit.  This table used rose water.)

  Solbol (hyacinth)-symbolizng Spring;

  Sabza (sprouts)-symbolizing renewal;

  Sekka (newly minted coins)-symbolizing wealth;

  Somaq (sumac berries)-symbolizing renewal;

  Sir (Garlic)-symbolizing medicine;

  Candles, symbolizing light, mirrors, symbolizing honesty and coloured eggs, symbolizing rebirth, are also included at the table.  Note that the egg is placed with the apples.  Sepand (wild rue) is also in the front of the arrangement, for use as incense.  We did not burn that, as an oxygen tank was in use by one of the participants. (Yes, the candle image was artificial.)

  This is one of the nicest Naw-Ruz tables I have seen, in several years.  It's always gratifying when we dig deeper into the fine traditions of what we are observing.

   

   

   

   

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