The Norouz main tradition ...

Norouz festival is a religious free celebration which is celebrated by all the different groups of people in Iran and the countries around(but Not Arabic countries). One of the inevitable parts of Norouz festival is HaftSin tradition. Haft Sîn (Persian: هفت سین) or the seven 'S's is a major tradition of Nowruz, the traditional Iranian new year. Today the haft sin table includes seven items specifically starting with the letter S or Sîn (س in the Persian alphabet). The items symbolically correspond to seven creations and holy immortals protecting them. Originally called Haft Chin (هفت چین), the Haft Sin has evolved over time, but has kept its symbolism. Traditionally, families attempt to set as beautiful a Haft Sîn table as they can, as it is not only of traditional and spiritual value, but also noticed by visitors during Nowruzi visitations and is a reflection of their good taste. The Haft Sin items are:

1. sabzeh(سبزه) - wheat, barley or lentil sprouts growing in a dish - symbolizing rebirth
2. samanu (سمنو)- a sweet pudding made from wheat germ - symbolizing affluence
3. senjed (سنجد)- the dried fruit of the oleaster tree - symbolizing love
4. sîr (سیر)- garlic - symbolizing medicine
5. sîb (سیب)- apples - symbolizing beauty and health
6. somaq (سماق)- sumac berries - symbolizing (the color of) sunrise
7. serkeh (سرکه)- vinegar - symbolizing age and patience

While traditionally incorrect, sometimes a missing Sin is exchanged with another item starting with an S. For example:

• sonbol (سنبل)- the fragrant hyacinth flower (the coming of spring)
• sekkeh (سکه)- coins (prosperity and wealth)

Other items on the table may include:

• traditional Iranian pastries such as baghlava (باقلوا),

toot (توت), naan-nokhodchi (نان نخودچی)

• dried nuts, berries and raisins that is called "Aajeel" (آجیل)
• lit candles (enlightenment and happiness)
• a mirror
• decorated eggs, sometimes one for each member of the family (fertility)
• a bowl with goldfish (life, and the sign of Pisces which the sun is leaving)
• a bowl of water with an orange in it (the earth floating in space)
• rose water for its magical cleansing powers
• the national colours, for a patriotic touch
• the Holy Quran, the Shahnama or the Divan of Hafez or any other religous book
  

This photo is taken by me at the city of Rasht as a traditional old style Iranian type of HaftSin(7 S)

The Norouz c

The year turned just now :-) The symbol of this year is bull ...

Happy Norouz,

The following link is the Happy Norouz message from Barak Obama :

Happy new Iranian year, Norouz :-)

Tomorrow around 12:43':30" the Iranian year will turn and it will be the new year. Iranians use their own solar calender which is an astronomicalsolar calendar and one of the longest chronological records in history and is currently used inIran and Afghanistan as the main official calendar. Beginning each year on thevernal equinox as precisely determined by astronomical observations from Tehran (or the 52.5°E meridian, which also defines IRST), this makes it more accurate than theGregorian Calendar in being synchronized with the solar year, but harder to work out when a particular date would occur before the New Year preceding that date.

The year is of course based on 12 months based and 4 different seasons of the year which starts with spring and finishes with winter. Iranians also celebrate the last Wednsday night of the year with fireworks. The new year is called Norouz(New day in Persian) which actually is a spring festival is celebrated by setting up a table of 7 different things that their name starts with the letter "S". Usually all the present elements on the table are a symbol of something.

This year my brother's family who live here in Norway are going back to Iran for the new year while I am stuck here. I can't go back because of my military service problem. I haven't served military since I became 18 and if I go back I have to first serve military and then would be allowed to come out to continiue my studies here.

Anyway Happy Norouz, the spring festival to everyone :-)

The picture over here is from a very good friend of mine, Mr. Mohammad E Hesamian

Equality gained, after death ...

From tomorrow on(Iranian new year), in Iran men & women are equal after death !!! Yep, you read it right, after death, totally equal ... According to law in Iran, when someone is for example killed in a car accident a money should be payed to the injured or dead people in the accident* beside the other punishment**. Today this amount of money is different for men & women. When a man could coast the insurance company full charge, a woman would do half of it. The reason behind the law were old traditions coming from Islamic rules basing on a man is a bread maker while a woman is not.Changing this law was one of the main goals of Iranian women movement beside having the right to keep their child after divorce & right to ask for divorce out of conditions. It might not mean so much as long as this is the case after the death but still is a symbolic victory for Iranian women.

* Usually by insurance, not allowed to drive without insurance in Iran.
** The person in charge of the accident can be imprisoned from 6 month if receives the sentence from court of law.
*** Picture from http://filipspagnoli.wordpress.com/2008/09/19/human-rights-facts-62-matriarchy-in-the-usa/

Nationalization of oil industry, anniversary

Today is an important political national day for Iran and Iranians. Today is the anniversary of the day that Iranian petroleum industry became national and the imperialist powers(Britain at the time) could not any more just take the oil without any propper Iranian authority.

This incident and right after it the few golden years of Iranian democracy is a historical point in Iranian history. The very good memory that ended with a plot to depose the symbol of Iranian democracy prime minister Mohammad Mosaddeq(man of the year 1951 by Time magazine*). This plot was called operation Ajax, an operation which was planned by American & British intelligence agencies and with direct cooperation of Iranian king.

Iranian people still remember those painful days with great sadness, but at the same time they are still very proud of what power of people and freedom of speech did on this great day. After negotiations for higher oil royalties failed, on 15 March and 20 March 1951, the Iranian Majlis(parliment) and Senate voted to nationalize the British-owned and operated AIOC, taking control of Iran’s oil industry. This day is the day right before Iranian ancient new year(the first day of spring) and is a national holiday in Iran.

Happy 29th of Esfand(Iranian calendar, equals with 20th of march).

Shahab.

* : For his sudden rise in popularity inside and outside of Iran, and for his defiance of the British, Mosaddeq was named as Time Magazine’s 1951 Man of the Year. Other notables considered for the title that year included Dean Acheson, President Dwight D. Eisenhower and General Douglas MacArthur.^{[42]
** : photo is from : http://shirin.mit.edu/blog/?cat=21&paged=2}

South of Iran, Persian Gulf

Takbir

These days, Iran is in tension. People are in the streets and sometimes things get out of control. I am far away from home land but observe closely what is happening through digital world with the help of Iranian Online Revolution.

I am worried, sad and desperate. It's hard to call back home but I made it and my family is safe. But still I can't close my eyes because every single one who are shot innocent are my brothers and sisters :-(

These days those who do not agree with the final result of the election call Takbir from roof tops. During the Iranian revolution of 1979, the call was shouted from rooftops during the evenings as a form of protest. This practice returned after the presidential election to show the protest of the people against the election results.
This piece of poem is a poem which points back to the Iranian revolution's atmosphere before 1979 but also has a lot to say during these days.