Happy Norooz/Nowruz aka Persian new year! I cannot wait to have some amazing Persian food when I get off work and complete my Haft-Sin table. For a little background information, Norooz is celebrated across faiths and borderlines and spanning back over 3,000 years, Norooz ( “new day” ) coincides with the Spring Equinox on March 20th. In Iran, Norooz is a widely practiced public holiday. Families often start off with some spring cleaning, and set up an alter-like table called the Haftsin, the table consists of several items that reflect certain values like regeneration, well-being, wealth, and more.

 example of a Haftsin table vs my first attempt at one 3 years ago

I am half Iranian therefore a lot of the time I am not recognized as a Persian. Most people just think I am “white”. Well you guess wrong and I am very proud of the half Iranian blood that is within me. The older I get the more I want to learn and grow from my background. The cultures that complete my makeup, both American and Iranian, help shape who I am and who I will become. Traditions are important and explain so much about a countries culture.

Best said by Melody Eshani in an article on FADER (she is a designer from LA & her stuff is awesome so check her out): “ It’s important now, more than ever, for Iranians to practice, talk about, and share our traditions. Tradition tells you so much about where someone came from, what they went through, how they got here. It shows we have this ancient rooted history, these beautiful traditions and customs, and this is what the meaning is. That really humanizes us when we’ve been really marginalized in so many ways, because people don’t know what to expect when you tell them you’re Iranian. It’s really important to share these things and show them what we’re about. “

Before you judge, educate yourself! You never know the beauty you may discover behind something J

Happy New Year ♥ enjoy some of my favorite spring, family, and Persians related photos and videos! If you have questions about Norooz feel free to ask!