Nawrooz in Herat
I remember childhood’s beautiful times,
Those exciting spring-days of childhood
(From a Persian song)
Keywords:
Nawrooz; Nowrooz; Norooz; Herat; Chella; Seagull; Swallow; Spring-cleaning; Charshanbe-sooree; Eavesdropping; Falgoosh; New Year’s Napery; Haftseen; Haft-miwa; Sabza; Samanu
First signs of spring
Those days, from the first week of February (second decade of Dalw or Bahman, Persians' eleventh solar month) we smelt the sweet smell of spring. Not only we believed that Chella khurd (Little Forty, from first of February to 10th of March) was much warmer than Chella kalaan (The Big Forty, from December 21 to February 1st) but we also felt it as a reality. If there were snow on the ground, a clear steam was rising from beneath of that snow, as if the Earth were respiring. Even in Kabul, where there is a colder winter, they believe likewise. I had heard from Kabuli seniors: Forty days to Aries, hug the lamb! It means that forty days to Aries (almost 10th of February) the weather gets warm so cattle and sheep can give birth. It is interesting for us in Canada that this is the time when groundhog, for the first time, comes out from its home after the winter hibernation.
On February 20s the signs of spring were more clear. The flamboyant tree by the flowerbed of our house was beginning to flower, and the buds and ivies of the only vine plant were parading. The presence of the spring became more realistic when gardeners brought loads of fresh but leafless branches which they had cut in the yearly pruning in the country. These branches remained many days on the courtyard before moving to the kitchen stock. We played with those branches and examined their freshness. They had a violet bright skin and when we broke them, the inside of sprigs was watery and fresh and some of the buds had been grown to opening small leaves. We tried to chew them as if we were testing the delicacy of the spring. I think we called these woods, jungle. All these plays taught us experiences about how spring comes. During the month of Isfand or Hoot (Piscine) hyacinth and daffodil flowers were brought to shops for sale. I remember my grandfather was the first who bought and brought bunches of hyacinth and daffodil which were set at the shelf of the living room, scattering sweet smell and beautifying the decoration of the room. On March weekends, people began going picnic, to the skirts of Takht e Zafar (means Throne of Triumph) mountains, where thousands of purple and flamboyant flowers were flourished. On returning back, some picked and brought bunches of these flowers as messengers of spring. These flowers were the clearest signs of spring. Appearance of immigrant birds on the sky was another sign of Nawrooz. Those birds were and are called Nawroozi-birds (seagull). Sometimes seagulls were fallen when there was a storm; otherwise they flied through dept of sky, and we could see their orderly rows as well as could hear their sounds and crowing.
Swallows, the guests of the warm seasons
Then it was swallows’ turn to come and check their nests. We assumed, every year, that the same last years’ swallows were coming. They checked their nests, and if the nests need repair they repaired them by bringing mud and straws and they were doing the repairing job as if they were expert architects. Swallows built nests on the ceilings of rooms. People loved swallow and liked their songs. They believed that swallows were citing a short chapter of the Holy Book. They were beautiful black birds with red beak. They did not harm any body even they did not eat any thing at home but they found worms, and might be insects, from streams and brooks and river beds, to living on. Swallows liked to swing; so people fixed swings for them near their nests. They sit on the swing, swinging; while they were singing, what we were told, were verses from the Holy Book.
No conserve foods anymoreThis (Chella Khurd=Little Forty) was the time when we had to leave some of our winter habits that we were forced to have them during the cold season. We stopped cooking and eating dried meat, and some other conserved foods because our seniors believed those things were not healthy anymore.
Spring cleaning
Then we had our yearly spring cleaning before Nawrooz. Spring cleaning is a traditional custom of Aryans’ like Iranians, Tajiks, Afghans, and others in the Meddle East and Central Asia. During the spring cleaning, people moved all house wares, washed and cleaned them. They also moved curtains, carpets and rugs, and washed them or shook them to drive all the dust that was sat on them during the last year. They cleaned all floors and walls and ceilings by brooms and other devices; then they placed everything to its place and rearranged the rooms for the New Year. They often repainted the rooms.Special days and nightsCharshanbe-sooreeThere were some special days and nights around Nawrooz; like the years last Wednesday, some called Charshanbe-Sooree (means Red Wednesday, or Happy Wednesday) and the years first Wednesday, and thirteenth of Nawrooz.
On Cahrshanbe-Sooree, people lit huge pyres of fire in open spaces, and while the fire was all flames, youngsters jumped over the fire from one side to the other side saying:Your redness mine; my paleness yours.In other words, they were addressing the fire:
Take my pale face and my grief and sorrows, and burn them
Instead, give me a red joyful face
So I live joyfully all next year.
The tradition of making fire on last Wednesday night of the year, and some other special days and nights, is an old custom and one can find accounts of this tradition in detail in Persian classics.
Eavesdropping on Charshanbe-sooree was another old folkloric custom that in Persian is called Faalgoosh. It was thus that somebody, who liked to know about his or her destiny or about the result of some work or subject, would stand at the back of a door or a window listening to what insiders were talking. This person took some of their conversation as an omen and would anticipate his or her future or the future of the subject that was meant.Nawrooz’ Moment
Then it was Nawrooz itself. Time of transition to New Year differs. It is being appointed by astronomers according to their astronomic calculations and accounts for the end of every year. Sometimes it may be in the morning, while another year may be in the afternoon or midnight. Even it’s being accounted for minutes and seconds. Transfer time of the year would be declared by astronomers who were called Monajjem, in Arabic, and Setara-shenas, in Persian, both which are translations for astronomer. Those days, in every country, there was only one Astronomer, mostly an official one. He made a calendar, which was a booklet around 24 pages or more, for one year. This calendar had all information for one year. In the calendar, even there were some advises for people about there personal lives. What they should do and what they should avoid during certain days. It was according to the belief they had for the influence of stars on human life. Nawrooz’ exact time, that was at a certain hour, minute and second, was also mentioned in the calendar, mostly on the front page. For example, Persian coming year will transfer on Wednesday, Farverdin 1, 1387, at the hour 18:9 and 19 second and here in Ontario, Canada on Thursday, March 20, 2008, at 1:48 AM.
There were some traditional rules that people observed at the time of transferring to New Year. All members of the family tried to be at home together. They were all bathed and wore clean clothes sit by the “Sofra-ye-Nawroozee” which means the Napery of the New Year, waiting for the New Year’s transition, there were fantastic folkloric imaginations. According to one belief the Earth was placed on one horn of the Cow while the Cow was stood on the back of the Fish. So at transition time, the Cow moved the Earth on his other horn. It was why some people put an egg on a laid mirror or on another smooth level. They believe that when the cow moves the Earth to his other horn, the egg would move and would tumble.New Year Napery
For the arrangement of the Napery, people started to at least ten days before Nawrooz. They had to prepare Green, which is called Sabza, as Tajiks pronounce, of Sabzeh, as Iranians pronounce. They put a piece of clean cloth in a plate. Then they bring some seeds, like oat, lentil or grass pea, on the cloth then pour some water to wet it and keep it fresh. They put also another piece of cloth to keep the moist. They water the plate every day. After a couple days, the seeds sprout, and the upper cloth should be taken over, not to prevent the growth of the sprouts. At the eve of Nawrooz, the green in the plate looks like a micro-flowerbed. The height of the green will be around five centimeters or a little higher. This beautiful green may have a red or any color ribbon around it neat knotted. There may be many plates of Sabza as one likes to have on the napery. These greens on plates are kept inside till thirteenth of Nawrooz. Then they are thrown on the garbage. Some place them on the trunk of their cars while leading to 13th picnic.
One may ask what the reason for making such a green is. It is because an ancient time people liked to have their Nawrooz ceremony outside in open air, and on lawns and in gardens. Since in some regions there was still wintry weather, people contrived to bring a piece of spring inside. These green plates were those pieces of spring.
Another way of having green is cress on the pitcher. They take a new earthen pitcher, and stick a wet cotton cloth all around the outer surface of the pitcher; then they spread a layer of cress seeds all over the cloth. They fill the pitcher with water. Every day they refill the pitcher which loses some water by secretion and being absorbed by the seeds. After a couple of days the pitcher turns to a beautiful green one, by the new sprout herbs.Haft-seen
Haft-seen means 7S’s; it is a napery or a tray in which there are seven plated filled with seven items that their names begin with S. Like Seeb (apple), Sanjid (service), Sirka (vinegar), Sakka (coin), Seer (garlic), Sumac (sumac), and Samanu. People have many reasoning for choosing these seven items, but the fact might have been that in ancient times people liked there napery or table to be decorated with things resembling God-given gifts as foods. They though what how there napery was at the transition instance, it would be likewise till the end of the year.Haft-miwaSome people choose seven kinds of dried fruit. They soak them, after cleaning them, for two tree days; then at the first days of the New Year they serve a cup of the fruit soaked in the water for their guests or they send a jar of it to their friends and relatives.
In the napery, people also put many other things for the omen. They put many boiled colored eggs, apples, oranges and other fruits and sweets they may have at home or the afford to prepare. They also put there a holy book, rosary and mirror.SamanuSamanu was another special dish for Nawrooz that people prepare for both the taste and its omen. Samanu is made of the wheat sprouts. They grind the sprouts and cook it in water. Without sugar, it turns to a delicious sweet dish. Samanu is usually cooked by women and it requires some traditional rituals to become proper. The cooks and audience should be clean and should wear clean clothes. During the cooking, while they stir the boiling pot, they sing a special song made for the samanu cooking. A plate of samanu is being put on the Nawrooz Napery and many plates or bowls are sent to friends and relatives to put on their own naperies or tables. Since cooking samanu is not an easy job, only a few families can cook it, and that is also with the help of other women who come and help in stirring and singing. So, samanu party is a very happy and amusing party for women.Pray for the New Year
In the eve of the New Year’s transition instance, all members of the family, all bathed and in clean and neat clothes, came and sat together by the napery. There were some prays and benedictions for this moment; the most famous, this one:O God, Thou, the turner of hearts and eyes
O, God, Thou, the Creator of day and night
O God, Thou, the transferor of the states and time
Turn our state into its best.People had special dinner for Nawrooz; some preferred a spinach dish with meat and rice, while some liked to have fish with rice.
Thus they welcomed the New Year and they hoped to be likewise in a good mood all the year. Of course these ceremonies and rituals for Nawrooz were not practiced all over the communities. Most people had abandoned them for many reasons. Some reckoned them as antireligious while some others disliked them because they were being practiced by some other nations. The fact is that these ancient customs are neither in contrast with any religion nor with any national value. They show the values and the knowledge of the ancient people.
In ancient times there was a 13-day vacation but now in most countries there is a one-day holyday. Some people go to other cities even outside the country while others stay and exchange parties with relatives and friends. Some go to countryside and enjoy fresh air of the first days of spring. On the day or the days of Nawrooz there were different amusements and entertainments for children and youngsters.
A great number of people travel to the holy shrines and spend New Year’s first days there. Some people travel to Mazar-Sharif where is believed to be the Holy Shrine of Ali, the fourth caliph of the Islam Prophet.
Ottawa, March 1, 2008
Asef Fekrat
I remember childhood’s beautiful times,
Those exciting spring-days of childhood
(From a Persian song)
Keywords:
Nawrooz; Nowrooz; Norooz; Herat; Chella; Seagull; Swallow; Spring-cleaning; Charshanbe-sooree; Eavesdropping; Falgoosh; New Year’s Napery; Haftseen; Haft-miwa; Sabza; Samanu
First signs of spring
Those days, from the first week of February (second decade of Dalw or Bahman, Persians' eleventh solar month) we smelt the sweet smell of spring. Not only we believed that Chella khurd (Little Forty, from first of February to 10th of March) was much warmer than Chella kalaan (The Big Forty, from December 21 to February 1st) but we also felt it as a reality. If there were snow on the ground, a clear steam was rising from beneath of that snow, as if the Earth were respiring. Even in Kabul, where there is a colder winter, they believe likewise. I had heard from Kabuli seniors: Forty days to Aries, hug the lamb! It means that forty days to Aries (almost 10th of February) the weather gets warm so cattle and sheep can give birth. It is interesting for us in Canada that this is the time when groundhog, for the first time, comes out from its home after the winter hibernation.
On February 20s the signs of spring were more clear. The flamboyant tree by the flowerbed of our house was beginning to flower, and the buds and ivies of the only vine plant were parading. The presence of the spring became more realistic when gardeners brought loads of fresh but leafless branches which they had cut in the yearly pruning in the country. These branches remained many days on the courtyard before moving to the kitchen stock. We played with those branches and examined their freshness. They had a violet bright skin and when we broke them, the inside of sprigs was watery and fresh and some of the buds had been grown to opening small leaves. We tried to chew them as if we were testing the delicacy of the spring. I think we called these woods, jungle. All these plays taught us experiences about how spring comes. During the month of Isfand or Hoot (Piscine) hyacinth and daffodil flowers were brought to shops for sale. I remember my grandfather was the first who bought and brought bunches of hyacinth and daffodil which were set at the shelf of the living room, scattering sweet smell and beautifying the decoration of the room. On March weekends, people began going picnic, to the skirts of Takht e Zafar (means Throne of Triumph) mountains, where thousands of purple and flamboyant flowers were flourished. On returning back, some picked and brought bunches of these flowers as messengers of spring. These flowers were the clearest signs of spring. Appearance of immigrant birds on the sky was another sign of Nawrooz. Those birds were and are called Nawroozi-birds (seagull). Sometimes seagulls were fallen when there was a storm; otherwise they flied through dept of sky, and we could see their orderly rows as well as could hear their sounds and crowing.
Swallows, the guests of the warm seasons
Then it was swallows’ turn to come and check their nests. We assumed, every year, that the same last years’ swallows were coming. They checked their nests, and if the nests need repair they repaired them by bringing mud and straws and they were doing the repairing job as if they were expert architects. Swallows built nests on the ceilings of rooms. People loved swallow and liked their songs. They believed that swallows were citing a short chapter of the Holy Book. They were beautiful black birds with red beak. They did not harm any body even they did not eat any thing at home but they found worms, and might be insects, from streams and brooks and river beds, to living on. Swallows liked to swing; so people fixed swings for them near their nests. They sit on the swing, swinging; while they were singing, what we were told, were verses from the Holy Book.
No conserve foods anymoreThis (Chella Khurd=Little Forty) was the time when we had to leave some of our winter habits that we were forced to have them during the cold season. We stopped cooking and eating dried meat, and some other conserved foods because our seniors believed those things were not healthy anymore.
Spring cleaning
Then we had our yearly spring cleaning before Nawrooz. Spring cleaning is a traditional custom of Aryans’ like Iranians, Tajiks, Afghans, and others in the Meddle East and Central Asia. During the spring cleaning, people moved all house wares, washed and cleaned them. They also moved curtains, carpets and rugs, and washed them or shook them to drive all the dust that was sat on them during the last year. They cleaned all floors and walls and ceilings by brooms and other devices; then they placed everything to its place and rearranged the rooms for the New Year. They often repainted the rooms.Special days and nightsCharshanbe-sooreeThere were some special days and nights around Nawrooz; like the years last Wednesday, some called Charshanbe-Sooree (means Red Wednesday, or Happy Wednesday) and the years first Wednesday, and thirteenth of Nawrooz.
On Cahrshanbe-Sooree, people lit huge pyres of fire in open spaces, and while the fire was all flames, youngsters jumped over the fire from one side to the other side saying:Your redness mine; my paleness yours.In other words, they were addressing the fire:
Take my pale face and my grief and sorrows, and burn them
Instead, give me a red joyful face
So I live joyfully all next year.
The tradition of making fire on last Wednesday night of the year, and some other special days and nights, is an old custom and one can find accounts of this tradition in detail in Persian classics.
Eavesdropping on Charshanbe-sooree was another old folkloric custom that in Persian is called Faalgoosh. It was thus that somebody, who liked to know about his or her destiny or about the result of some work or subject, would stand at the back of a door or a window listening to what insiders were talking. This person took some of their conversation as an omen and would anticipate his or her future or the future of the subject that was meant.Nawrooz’ Moment
Then it was Nawrooz itself. Time of transition to New Year differs. It is being appointed by astronomers according to their astronomic calculations and accounts for the end of every year. Sometimes it may be in the morning, while another year may be in the afternoon or midnight. Even it’s being accounted for minutes and seconds. Transfer time of the year would be declared by astronomers who were called Monajjem, in Arabic, and Setara-shenas, in Persian, both which are translations for astronomer. Those days, in every country, there was only one Astronomer, mostly an official one. He made a calendar, which was a booklet around 24 pages or more, for one year. This calendar had all information for one year. In the calendar, even there were some advises for people about there personal lives. What they should do and what they should avoid during certain days. It was according to the belief they had for the influence of stars on human life. Nawrooz’ exact time, that was at a certain hour, minute and second, was also mentioned in the calendar, mostly on the front page. For example, Persian coming year will transfer on Wednesday, Farverdin 1, 1387, at the hour 18:9 and 19 second and here in Ontario, Canada on Thursday, March 20, 2008, at 1:48 AM.
There were some traditional rules that people observed at the time of transferring to New Year. All members of the family tried to be at home together. They were all bathed and wore clean clothes sit by the “Sofra-ye-Nawroozee” which means the Napery of the New Year, waiting for the New Year’s transition, there were fantastic folkloric imaginations. According to one belief the Earth was placed on one horn of the Cow while the Cow was stood on the back of the Fish. So at transition time, the Cow moved the Earth on his other horn. It was why some people put an egg on a laid mirror or on another smooth level. They believe that when the cow moves the Earth to his other horn, the egg would move and would tumble.New Year Napery
For the arrangement of the Napery, people started to at least ten days before Nawrooz. They had to prepare Green, which is called Sabza, as Tajiks pronounce, of Sabzeh, as Iranians pronounce. They put a piece of clean cloth in a plate. Then they bring some seeds, like oat, lentil or grass pea, on the cloth then pour some water to wet it and keep it fresh. They put also another piece of cloth to keep the moist. They water the plate every day. After a couple days, the seeds sprout, and the upper cloth should be taken over, not to prevent the growth of the sprouts. At the eve of Nawrooz, the green in the plate looks like a micro-flowerbed. The height of the green will be around five centimeters or a little higher. This beautiful green may have a red or any color ribbon around it neat knotted. There may be many plates of Sabza as one likes to have on the napery. These greens on plates are kept inside till thirteenth of Nawrooz. Then they are thrown on the garbage. Some place them on the trunk of their cars while leading to 13th picnic.
One may ask what the reason for making such a green is. It is because an ancient time people liked to have their Nawrooz ceremony outside in open air, and on lawns and in gardens. Since in some regions there was still wintry weather, people contrived to bring a piece of spring inside. These green plates were those pieces of spring.
Another way of having green is cress on the pitcher. They take a new earthen pitcher, and stick a wet cotton cloth all around the outer surface of the pitcher; then they spread a layer of cress seeds all over the cloth. They fill the pitcher with water. Every day they refill the pitcher which loses some water by secretion and being absorbed by the seeds. After a couple of days the pitcher turns to a beautiful green one, by the new sprout herbs.Haft-seen
Haft-seen means 7S’s; it is a napery or a tray in which there are seven plated filled with seven items that their names begin with S. Like Seeb (apple), Sanjid (service), Sirka (vinegar), Sakka (coin), Seer (garlic), Sumac (sumac), and Samanu. People have many reasoning for choosing these seven items, but the fact might have been that in ancient times people liked there napery or table to be decorated with things resembling God-given gifts as foods. They though what how there napery was at the transition instance, it would be likewise till the end of the year.Haft-miwaSome people choose seven kinds of dried fruit. They soak them, after cleaning them, for two tree days; then at the first days of the New Year they serve a cup of the fruit soaked in the water for their guests or they send a jar of it to their friends and relatives.
In the napery, people also put many other things for the omen. They put many boiled colored eggs, apples, oranges and other fruits and sweets they may have at home or the afford to prepare. They also put there a holy book, rosary and mirror.SamanuSamanu was another special dish for Nawrooz that people prepare for both the taste and its omen. Samanu is made of the wheat sprouts. They grind the sprouts and cook it in water. Without sugar, it turns to a delicious sweet dish. Samanu is usually cooked by women and it requires some traditional rituals to become proper. The cooks and audience should be clean and should wear clean clothes. During the cooking, while they stir the boiling pot, they sing a special song made for the samanu cooking. A plate of samanu is being put on the Nawrooz Napery and many plates or bowls are sent to friends and relatives to put on their own naperies or tables. Since cooking samanu is not an easy job, only a few families can cook it, and that is also with the help of other women who come and help in stirring and singing. So, samanu party is a very happy and amusing party for women.Pray for the New Year
In the eve of the New Year’s transition instance, all members of the family, all bathed and in clean and neat clothes, came and sat together by the napery. There were some prays and benedictions for this moment; the most famous, this one:O God, Thou, the turner of hearts and eyes
O, God, Thou, the Creator of day and night
O God, Thou, the transferor of the states and time
Turn our state into its best.People had special dinner for Nawrooz; some preferred a spinach dish with meat and rice, while some liked to have fish with rice.
Thus they welcomed the New Year and they hoped to be likewise in a good mood all the year. Of course these ceremonies and rituals for Nawrooz were not practiced all over the communities. Most people had abandoned them for many reasons. Some reckoned them as antireligious while some others disliked them because they were being practiced by some other nations. The fact is that these ancient customs are neither in contrast with any religion nor with any national value. They show the values and the knowledge of the ancient people.
In ancient times there was a 13-day vacation but now in most countries there is a one-day holyday. Some people go to other cities even outside the country while others stay and exchange parties with relatives and friends. Some go to countryside and enjoy fresh air of the first days of spring. On the day or the days of Nawrooz there were different amusements and entertainments for children and youngsters.
A great number of people travel to the holy shrines and spend New Year’s first days there. Some people travel to Mazar-Sharif where is believed to be the Holy Shrine of Ali, the fourth caliph of the Islam Prophet.
Ottawa, March 1, 2008
Asef Fekrat
