FIREWORKS FOR NOWRUZ

WHAT: IRANIAN NEW YEAR
WHY: CELEBRATION FIREWORKS
WHERE: UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHAMPTON, HIGHFIELD CAMPUS
WHEN: 13TH MARCH 2018 – 6PM – 10PM (TODAY)

The people of Southampton are in for a treat this evening in the form of a firework display in celebration of the coming Nowruz (Iranian new year) celebrations. Nowruz has become an internationally celebrated event, particularly in areas where large numbers of Iranian families have settled.

Nowruz has been celebrated for over 3000 years and today, more than 190 million people worldwide join in the festivities. This faith pre-dates Islam and Christianity.

It is essentially a Spring festival during which Iranian people celebrate the start of the growing season when the day and night are almost equal.

In the homes of the Iranian, there are certain traditions which must be observed during Nowruz to ensure a rich harvest in the coming Autumn. They prepare a Haft-Seen which is a table laden with 7 special items which represent the new season and the new year. Here are the items in Iranian, their English equivalent and what each item represents:

SEEB – APPLE - BEAUTY
SEER - GARLIC - GOOD HEALTH
SERKAH - DRY WINE/VINEGAR - PATIENCE
SONBOL – HYACINTH - SPRING
SAMANU – PUDDING - FERTILITY
SABZEH - SPROUTS (LIKE BEAN SPROUTS) - REBIRTH
SEKEH - COINS/MONEY - PROSPERITY

Khoneh Takoon literally translates as shaking of the house which is another expression of spring cleaning and like the Chinese spring festival counterparts, there are special foods and activities like fire jumping which help to burn off the bad energy of the old year before starting the new.

Festivities for the new year start this year on 20th March with their new years day on 21st March when they jump over fires, visit family and friends, often for very short spaces of time to ensure that they get to see and speak to as many friends and family as possible
This evening, the local Iranian association will begin their celebrations, in the middle of their adopted community. Get along to the University campus to show your support for this free event.