Norouz Customs

Khane Tekani - House Cleaning
The first step in getting prepared for Norouz is khane tekani or house cleaning. In the past, Iranians believed that in Norouz their dead relatives would come and visit them. That is the reason why they clean their houses. The word khane means house and tekani means shake. So khane tekani means that you clean your house by shaking it, the way you clean a rug. During the khane tekani, every room in the house is cleaned, the curtains, carpets and rugs are washed, the silverware are polished and old things are renewed. Even the look of the family is renewed by new clothes. The houses will be filled with the smell of flowers such as narcissus and hyacinth, and something which is called esfand and is burned in order to keep the evil spirits away.

Chahar Shanbe Suri - Red Wednesday Bonfire Festival
On the eve of the last Wednesday of the year, Iranian people celebrate chahar shanbe suri. Chahar shanbe means Wednesday and suri means red. The celebration starts early in the evening, when children wrap themselves in white sheets and act like the dead spirits, running around in the streets and banging on pots and pans with spoons. This is called ghashogh-zani or spoon banging. They also go to the neighbors and knock on their doors and ask
for sweets, like in Halloween.
The main event of chahar shanbe suri is making seven little fires on the ground, jumping over them and singing "sorkhi-e to az man, zardi-e to az man", it means "your fiery red color is mine, and my yellow paleness is yours", or better to say you want the fire to take your yellow paleness, sickness and problems, and give you its redness, warmth and energy.
It is believed that in this day wishes will come true. So people who have made wishes hide behind the walls and listen to the passenger's conversations. If the conversations heard are positive, their wish will come true. This is called fal gush, meaning listening to one's fortune.
Finally the celebration ends with fire work and the family gathering for a joyful meal.

Sal Tahvil - New Year's Time
sal tahvil is a very important moment. It is the time for forgiving each other, leaving the differences behind and building relationships. The countdown of sal tahvil is usually followed on radio or television. During the countdown the family gathers around the haft sin wearing the new clothes. When the countdown is finished and New Year has arrived, family members kiss each other and greet each other by saying "sal-e no mobarak" or "eyd-e shoma mobarak", meaning happy new year. Then the gifts, which is usually money placed inside the Koran are exchanged. The older give gifts to the younger ones.
It is also believed that the first visitor in New Year will bring luck with him/herself. So usually the youngest member of the family, who is the most innocent, will be sent outside with sweets and knock and come in and pretend to be a visitor.


Haji Firuz - Persian Wandering Singer
Haji Firuz is a traditional character that wears colorful clothes and by singing and dancing through streets spreads the news of the New Year. He symbolizes the rebirth of the Sumerian god of sacrifice, Domuzi, who was killed at the end of each year and reborn at the beginning of the New Year.


Sofreh Haft Sin - The S's of New Year
Sofreh haft sin is spread for the family to gather around it at Norouz. The word haft means seven, sin is the "s" in alphabet, and sofreh means table-cloth. Sofreh haft sin contains seven special things that star with the "s" sound. In addition to those seven things, one may also place other things that represent renewal, happiness, wealth, good health, and other things which is desired for the new year. These are what a typical sofreh haft sin have:
1) Sabze (spring sprout), is made from wheat or lentil and signifies rebirth and renewal.
2) Senjed (a sweet, dry fruit of a lotus tree), signifies love and affection.
3) Sib (apple) represents health and beauty.
4) Samanou (wheat pudding) represents sweetness and fertility.
5) Serke (vinegar) signifies age and patience.
6) Somagh (crushed sumac berries) represents the spice of life. Some say that it also represents the color of sunrise and with the sun all evil is defeated.
7) Sir (garlic) is a sign of good health.
8) Sekkeh (coin) is a symbol of wealth and prosperity.
9) Sonbol (hyacinth flower) represents life and beauty.
10) Sangak (a kind of bread) represents prosperity for the feasts.
11) Mahi (gold fish) in a clear white bowl represents life.
12) Ayne (mirror) brings light and brightness is the New Year.
13) Sham (candle) is a symbol of fire and energy.
14) Tokhm-e morgh (decorated egg) symbolizes fertility.
15) Koran is for blessings and faith in New Year. Some also put Divan-e Hafez or other books of faith.
16) Esfand (wild rue) keeps the evil eye away and brings on health.

Did-o Bazdid - New Year's visits
The eve of the sal tahvil is usually spent at home with family. But from the day after the did-o bazdid starts. This means to visit and to be visited back. This tradition usually starts with visiting the oldest person of the family like the grandmother or the grandfather, and goes to youngest person. This tradition is a way of paying respect to the family and visiting those we normally can't visit during the year because of being busy.


Sizdah Bedar - The Day 13 Outing
Sizdah bedar is the last holiday of norouz. Sizdah means thirteen and bedar means away or out. Since 13 is an unlucky number, this day is spent outside the house and with the nature. At the end of the celebration of this day, young single women tie the leaves of the sabzeh, symbolizing their wish to get married before the next year's sizdah bedar. When tying the leaves they whisper "sal-e digar, khuneye shohar, bache be baghal", meaning "by next year married with my child in my arms".