In Iran and for Iranians all over the world, the month of March would normally mean a time for Nowruz preparations and celebrations.
Preparations include a complete house cleaning and getting the haftseen ready. Haftseen is an arrangement of seven symbolic items whose names start with the equivalent of the letter s in Farsi. Seven of the following items are often used, depending on preferences and availability: sabzeh (sprouts), symbolizing rebirth; seeb (apple), symbolizing health and beauty; seer (garlic), symbolizing medicine; somagh (sumac), which symbolizes the color of sunrise; serkeh (vinegar), symbolizing age and patience; senjed (dried fruit from the lotus tree), symbolizing love; samanoo (a sweet pudding), symbolizing affluence; sekkeh (coin), symbolizing wealth and prosperity; sonbol (hyacinth), a spring flower.
We celebrate by jumping over a bonfire on Chaharshanbeh Soori, the last Tuesday before spring.
In the third week of the month, spring arrives, the season of rebirth and renewal, which would normally mean visiting family and friends.
I wonder what Nowruz is like this year for Iranians...
