Haft Seen
passing on the Persian traditions of New Year
passing on the Persian traditions of New Year
The ultimate symbol of life in a Persian household is the Persian New Year or “No-Ruz”. It is held on the first day of spring to welcome life into this world. There are many rituals involved with this significant day.
My favorite holiday has always been No-Ruz. From childhood memories of buying new clothes and preparing for the big day by cleaning out my closet, to my teen years of looking forward to money fill envelopes that ment presents I actually wanted, No-Ruz has been a special tradition which I hope to pass on to generations to come. In order to pass on this tradition I wanted to create a set symbol, a keep sake that would allow future generations to celebrate the Persian New Year even if they don't necessarily follow all the traditions and obtain all the necessary 'seven S' items on the spread list.
My No-Ruz 'tray' is a place holder for the seven items that would traditional fill the spaces. It is based on the traditional Iranian 'Chahar Baag' or four gardens style of architecture. The hope is that this particular tray is passed on from generation to generation and is a reminder of the family's heritage. It is then used during new years with or with out the traditional items inside.
My favorite holiday has always been No-Ruz. From childhood memories of buying new clothes and preparing for the big day by cleaning out my closet, to my teen years of looking forward to money fill envelopes that ment presents I actually wanted, No-Ruz has been a special tradition which I hope to pass on to generations to come. In order to pass on this tradition I wanted to create a set symbol, a keep sake that would allow future generations to celebrate the Persian New Year even if they don't necessarily follow all the traditions and obtain all the necessary 'seven S' items on the spread list.
My No-Ruz 'tray' is a place holder for the seven items that would traditional fill the spaces. It is based on the traditional Iranian 'Chahar Baag' or four gardens style of architecture. The hope is that this particular tray is passed on from generation to generation and is a reminder of the family's heritage. It is then used during new years with or with out the traditional items inside.
Exterior of the the box reflects the large double doors of traditional Persian homes that open up to the courtyard and entry.
The doors can be opened one at a time. On the left door you can see a mirror, a requirement of the Haft Seen, there for reflection and light.
On the right door behind a lattice that represents balconies found in traditional architecture is a place to put envelopes that would have money in them to be given away as gifts to youth when visiting their elders.
Here you can see the entire Haft Seen. In the center is a place to hold vinegar representing the location of a water feature and on all four sides you can see the remainder of the 'S-lettered' items in the 'Chahar Bag' or four gardens configuration.
