Haft Seen (seven "S")

The Zoroastrians of ancient Persia celebrated the creation of life by offering their god, Ahura Mazda, seven trays filled with symbolic objects representing truth, justice, good thoughts, good deeds, virtue, prosperity, generosity and immortality.

Today, the tradition is continued through the setting of the table or spread with an arrangement of several items of which seven starts with the Persian letter Seen (S in English). The Persian word for the number seven is "Haft", hence, 'Haft Seen' means "Seven S's".

It is customary for the family to gather around the Haft Seen spread and to spend a few hours before the New Year. In ancient Iran wine was always present at the setting, which is repla c ed by vinegar due to ban of alcohol in Islam.

At the exact moment of the New Year, the oldest person in the family continues the traditions by hugging and wishing each member well and offering sweets, pastries, and coins. Banknotes are sometimes placed between the pages of the Holy Koran to bless them before they are given to the younger members of the Family.

The contemporary Haft Seen spread includes seven of the following items:

Sabzeh- wheat or lentils grown in a tray or dish prior to Norouz to represent rebirth.
Samanu- - a sweet pudding made from wheat germ, symbolizing affluence.
Senjed- dried fruit of the lotus tree which represents love.
Seer- which means garlic in Persian represents medicine.
Seeb- - which means apple in Persian, and represents beauty and health.
Somaq- - sumac berries, which represent the color of the sun rise.
Serkeh- -which means vinegar in Persian, and represents age and patience,
Sonbol- the hyacinth flower with its strong fragrance heralding the coming of spring
Sekkeh-Coins - representing prosperity and wealth.

The other items in the spread include:
Shirini- Sugar cookies and pastries, Candles - representing enlightenment and happiness,
Mirror- - representing the reflections of creation on the first day of spring, Painted eggs - representing fertility, A bowl with goldfish - representing life and the end of the Zodiac sign of Pisces.
An orange in a bowl of water - it represents the earth floating in space.
Rosewater - thought to have magical cleansing powers.