Qomnews
: Ahead of Nowruz, Iranian people across the country are preparing for the Persian New Year.
The word Nowruz means 'new day' in Persian and stands as the most crucial festival in Iran.
This ancient ritual is also observed in various countries spanning the Middle East, Central Asia, South Asia, the Balkans, and East Africa, with a history dating back over 3,000 years.
Throughout its long history, the holiday has evolved, with distinct regions maintaining or creating unique customs, while also incorporating new ones.
Regardless of the location, the essence of Nowruz remains a celebration of rejuvenation and new beginnings.
People starts preparing for the celebrations weeks in advance. They thoroughly clean their homes, from carpets to windows and curtains, with the whole family pitching in. Any damaged items are fixed or replaced, and the house is adorned with flowers. Through this spring cleaning ritual, they rid themselves of negativity from the past year and welcome positivity in the upcoming one.
Also, People prepare a special table in their homes, where they place small dishes holding seven symbolic foods and spices. The names of these foods all start with the letter 's' in Persian and so the table is called the 'seven s's' (Haft-seen).
Iranians spend the night of Nowruz with their family. The traditional New Year dinner is white fish with rice and herbs. Many families give a money gift (called eidi) to the children to mark the new year. People often visit each other's homes and always bring traditional gifts.
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