Iran is the birthplace of the feast dating back to almost 4,000 years ago.

Although the United Nations General Assembly has officially recognized Norouz as an Iranian festival, the annual ceremony is not limited to Iran.

In addition to Iran, over 300 million people in Turkey, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and other parts of the world celebrate the auspicious occasion.

“Spring cleaning” or “house cleaning” ahead of Norouz is a familiar tradition particularly in Iran, Tajikistan and Afghanistan.

Table setting is among the traditions of Norouz. People in Iran, Azerbaijan and some parts of Afghanistan set the table named Haft Sīn – seven items whose first letter have “s” sound.

The items included sīr (garlic), senjed (dried oleaster Wild Olive fruit), samanu (sweet pudding made from wheat germ), sīb (apple), sekkeh (coin), sabzeh (wheat, barley, mung bean or lentil sprouts growing in a dish) and somaq (sumac fruit). They are the symbols of medicine, love, affluence, beauty and health, wealth, rebirth and sunrise, respectively.

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