Nowruz — the Persian New Year — begins at the exact astronomical moment of the vernal equinox. Not on January 1st. Not on the first Sunday of a given month. At the precise second when the sun crosses the celestial equator. Usually around March 20th or 21st.
This precision is not accidental. It is a statement of philosophy: the year turns with the Earth, not with human convenience.
The Haft-Sin Table
At the moment Nowruz arrives, Iranian families gather around a table called the haft-sin (هفتسین) — ‘the seven S’s.’ On the table are placed seven items whose names begin with the Persian letter sin (س):
- sabzeh (سبزه) — wheatgrass, representing rebirth
- samanu (سمنو) — wheat pudding, representing power and fertility
- senjed (سنجد) — dried oleaster, representing love
- sir (سیر) — garlic, representing medicine
- sib (سیب) — apple, representing beauty and health
- somaq (سماق) — sumac, representing the color of sunrise
- serkeh (سرکه) — vinegar, representing patience and wisdom
Also on the table: a mirror, candles, colored eggs, a goldfish, a book of poetry (usually Hafez or Shahnameh), and coins.
The table is an altar to the year. Everything on it means something.