Sizdah Bedar (13th day of Nowruz)

Now the 12 first days of Nowruz (New Year), which are very important for Iranian people, have passed. So now the 13th day of the New Year, which is very tedious for school students, always marks the beginning of the return to ordinary daily life.

Spending the day outdoors on the 13th of New Year is one of the most significant traditions in Iranian culture. This day is always called “Sizdah Bedar.” Sizdah is number thirteen in Persian and Bedar means get rid of. As you may know, the number 13 is the symbol of bad luck in Iranian culture, so Sizdah Bedar means “getting rid of thirteen.”

It is custom on this day, for families to pack and go to the crowded parks or countryside. Iranian people believe that sprouts or “Sabzeh” which we put in our haft-seen table should collect all the sickness, pain and ill during first 12 days of New Year, so on 13th day of year we always throw away the Sabzeh and we want to be free of all those sicknesses. Another tradition in that day which is done by some people, is knotting of blades of grass by unmarried girls in the hope of finding a partner for her life. The knotting of the grass represents love of the man and a woman.

By the end of this day, the fourteen-day vacation will be over and people will become ready for doing normal life.

Haft-seen

Now the time is suitable for introducing Haft-seen.

Haft-seen:
In the first day of Nowruz, the special table with seven specific items will be provided in every Iranian houses.
You like to know more information about this Iranian custom, don’t you?
This especial table has seven items that all start with the Persian letter “Seen” or the English letter “S.” Each one of these things is the symbol of life.

The symbolic table consists of:
1. Sabzeh or sprouts, usually wheat or lentil represents rebirth.
2. Samanu is a pudding in which common wheat sprouts are transformed and given new life as a sweet, represents the ultimate sophistication of Persian cooking.
3. Seeb means apple and represents health and beauty.
4. Senjed the sweet, dry fruit of the Lotus tree represents love.
5. Seer which is garlic in Persian represents medicine.
6. Somaq, sumac berries, represents the color of sunrise.
7. Serkeh or vinegar represents age and patience.

Other symbols that we usually put on the table are:
. A few coins as a wealth
. painted eggs as a fertility
. Orange floating in a bowl of water represents the earth floating in space
. Goldfish as a symbol of being live or life
. A mirror which reflects images of table
. Candles for its brightness
. Holy book

Nowruz (Iranian New Year)

The word Nowrus is the combination of two Persian words, “now” means new, and the word “ruz” which means both day and time. Nowruz literally means “new day”, but it is usually translated as “new year.”
Iranian New Year celebration (Nowruz) always begins on the first day of spring in harmony with the rebirth of nature. First day of spring, which is 21st of March, is also the first day of Iranian solar calendar.
Nowruz ceremony, the oldest tradition of Iran, is the symbol of two ancient concepts: the End and the Rebirth, or Good and Evil.
You may be interested to know what we do before and during 13 days of Nowruz celebration. In text bellow, you will read shortly about before Nowruz.

Preparations for Nowruz
Preparation for welcoming the Nowrus starts early in March with cleaning the house and then sowing Sabzeh (lentil or wheat). Iranians begin to wash carpets, paint the house and make everywhere clean. People believe that they can keep Evil away from the kingdom of Good with cleanliness.

The sprouting of seeds and house cleaning are followed by Nowruz shopping. People buy new clothes, shoes and different kinds of sweets, fruits and nuts. They also prepare some presents for their families and friends.

We celebrate the evening of last Tuesday of the out-going year. On this day, family gets together and each members jumps over the fire and says, “Give me your beautiful red color and take back my sickly pallor.” Iranians believe by going over the fire they will get rid of all their illnesses and misfortunes.

Now this is the time for celebrate Nowruz.
I will focus on activities during Nowruz ceremony in next entry.