Slightly off topic but March 20, marks the first day of the Persian New Year, the year 1391 in the Persian Calender.

happy New Year to Afsaneh and anyone else celebrating today!

The occassion, called Nowruz in Persian-Speaking countries which translates into 'New Day', is one of the richest parts of the Persian Heritage (something Iranians pride themselves in ). The festival is celebrated throughout the Persian Speaking world and Greater Iran. The festival is thought to have originated from the Achaemenid era.

The UN's General Assembly in 2010 recognized the International Day of Nowruz, describing it a spring festival of Persian origin which has been celebrated for over 3,000 years

Each Persian family makes a special table filled with all sorts of goods like:

sabzeh - Wheat Barley or Lentil sprouts growing in a dish - symbolizing rebirth
Samanu - a sweet pudding made from Wheat_germ - symbolizing affluence
senjed - the dried fruit of the Elaeagnus angustifolia tree - symbolizing love
"sir" - Garlic - symbolizing medicine
"sib" - - symbolizing beauty and health
somaq - Sumac berries - symbolizing (the color of) sunrise
serkeh - Vinegar - symbolizing age and patience.

Other items on the table may include:

Sonbol - Hyacinth (plant)
Sekkeh - Coins - representative of wealth
Traditional Iranian pastries such as Baklava ,White Mulberry , naan-nokhodchi
Aajeel - dried nuts, berries and raisins
lit Candle (enlightenment and happiness)
a Mirror (symbolizing cleanness and honesty)
Egg decorating , sometimes one for each member of the family (fertility), the Flag of Iran, for a patriotic touch a holy book (e.g., the Avesta ,Qur'an,
Bible ,Torah or Kitáb-i-Aqdas) and/or a poetry book

And lots of other goodies, I'm sure, which I'm not familiar with! Besides that, from what I understand family members visit each other (big family gathering) and even involves spring cleaning!