Nowruz Mubarak! Celebrating a New Year Bly Style

March 20, 2014

Spring is finally here, and while some of us may still be waiting for winter to thaw before opening our windows, Nowruz celebrations around the world are just beginning.

Rooted in ancient Persia and the Zoroastrian religion, Nowruz has been celebrated by people of diverse ethnic and religious communities for thousands of years.

Nowruz (literally “New Year”) officially begins with the Spring Equinox—when the sun is directly over the equator, and evenly casts light to the North and South hemispheres. A time to clean house, buy a new set of clothes, pay visits to your friends and neighbors, and feast on traditional spring dishes.

One of the most important aspects of the celebrations is the Haft Seen table. Set up in every household, Haft, the Persian word for the number 7 and Seen for the letter S in the alphabet, means “seven items that start with the letter S.” Each item on the table holds a special meaning —a mirror, for example, symbolizes the reflection of the last year and an egg, fertility. The act of placing them on the table is a family tradition that welcomes a happy and prosperous year.

In honor of Nowruz celebrations around the world, the Bly family has set up our own Haft-Seen on our Raisa Susani. Pulling our favorites from Bukhara to Mumbai collections, we’re celebrating with a global touch!

Lentil Sprouts (Sabzi): Symbolizes rebirth (Pictured in our Brass Mother of Pearl Bowl)

Wheat Pudding (Samanu): is for affluence, and the sweet reward of patience (Shown in our Brass Surya Bowl)

Fruit of the Oleaster tree (Senjed): is for love. It is said that when the trees are in full bloom, its fragrance and fruit send people into drunken love. (Also pictured in our Dilobar Ceramic Dish)

Garlic (Sir): Symbolizes medicine and health

Apples (Seeb): Represents natural beauty

Sumac berries (Somaq): Is for the color of sunrise, because the appearance of the Sun conquers all evil. (Shown in our Brass Surya Bowl)

Vinegar (Serkeh): Represents patience and old age. (In Bly’s Brass Fan Cup)