According to my beautiful Persian friend, Naw Ruz means New Day as tomorrow is the first day of spring after today, Spring Equinox. I was anointed with drops of dewy rose water, had morsels of delicate cookies and sips of wine accompanied by delicious green herb rice and green quiche/frittata called Kuku? Some cute name this dish has and so scrumptious ! Special symbolic foods are served as a tradition to celebrate Persian New Year!
Golden calligraphy of Hafiz poetry graced this shrine thoughtfully decorated with symbolic New Year’s auspicious eggs (origin of Easter eggs?), bulb flowers of tulips and hyacinth, iris, violets and orchid blossoms still blooming from the winter season, welcoming spring with refreshed smile – school of goldfish swimming in water, pot of green grass, herbs, coins, strands of beads and a rock and ashes and … beautifully lit candles on marble. The symbolism of each carefully selected item curated… but first, to begin with the ritual of looking into the central mirror to set New Years resolution … an affirmation …got me to really appreciate not only this New Day but our friendship. (there were even “Meoto” rice bowls of cherry blossoms from Japan:) So honored to learn about this celebration that dates back centuries, steeped in long Persian history – Persian civilization dates back so far as one the oldest on earth so particularly fascinated to learn the symbolic meanings to all that graced before my eyes. Thank you for sharing your light, dear Friend:)
Variety of fresh spring herbs are folded into this green rice and frittata – Tastes like Spring !
Here’s a poem by Hafiz I found that made me think of my peace loving or just plain, loving and elegant Persian friend:
ELEGANCE
It
Is not easy
To stop thinking ill
Of others.
Usually one must enter into a friendship
With a person
Who has accomplished that great feat himself
Then
Something
Might start to rub off on you
Of that
True
Elegance
Laughter comes easy when you are breathing that air of “true elegance” …it’s rubbing off, as I set my Affirmation for this New Day.
***
Sky report is cloudy with some rain but undeterred, cherry blossoms are slowly starting to blossom. Undeniably …
SPRING had arrived.
Happy New Year!!!
