I’d like to wish you all a happy new year.
Today (March 20/21st) is our Persian New Year. It is the most widely celebrated holiday in Iran and is a very happy time for Persians all over the world.
If you’d like to read more about the holiday, you can visit this link.
HAPPY NO RUZ!
D’oh.
It must’ve been the excitement!
The link is…
http://www.payvand.com/ny/massoume.html
and a few more…
http://www.persianoutpost.com/htdocs/NoRuzEquinox.html
http://www.zyworld.com/Pasargad/Noruz.htm
http://streetcat.bnkst.edu/html/FolkloreShahida.html ( a good description of how one family celebrates)
Happy No Ruz Ana!
Noruzetan pirooz, Anahita! 
Noruzetan pirooz, Anahita!
Will you do anything special to celebrate? Hope Yasmin has fun 
Unfortunately, probably not. We will go to our relatives in Paris at the weekend for a small celebration.
My favorite part is “Char-shambeh souri” which is described in the links. It involves a small fire, and the family members jumping over the fire. It’s now a totally secular holiday, even in the very religious Iranian communities.
Most modern Iranians abroad usually celebrate at gatherings in hotels or halls in addition to small gatherings in the home.
Unfortunately, my mom informs me that the celebration at the Hilton we usually attend, with dancing, food, and live music is cancelled for this year because of fears that there may be some attacks on the gathering because of the backlash against people of Middle Eastern descent.
That makes me very sad, and this is supposed to be a happy time.
Another tradition is that everyone in the family must have a new ‘dast-e lehbahs’ or new ‘set of clothes.’
Yasmin got a big box of clothes (some new, some hand-me-downs) just in time! Yay!
To all the Dopers far and wide:
<i>Sad sal bi in sal-ha</i>
May another hundred years be as happy and joyous as this one (referring to the holiday feeling).
Happy New Year, Anahita, and Persians everywhere. Especially to the staff at Yas, my favourite restaurant in London; and to my Canadian-Iranian friend Nazanine with whom I have lost touch.
I knew Nazanine when we were both studying in France nine years ago - much the same kind of thing that andygirl has just been doing. I remember that she set up a little haft-sinn table in her teeny-weeny little apartment. I remember that there was a mirror and some painted eggs, and a hyacinth with pretty ribbon tied around it, and sprouted seeds and garlic and vinegar.
Spring equinox is a lovely time of year. It’s when my get-up-and-go comes back.
Yes, that is the haft-seen.
She sounds like a lovely friend. Why don’t you try to look her up to catch up on old times?
Happy No Ruz, Tansu.
That really hurts! Right in the thread title you say you’re excluding me. Well, see if I’m yer pal any longer!
Or is it like the “No Homers” club. They could have one Homer, but not two. You can have one Rue, but no more…
Oh wait…
It’s a holiday with fire. Cool!
Anahita, happy No Ruz (with a Rue).
Still yer pal,
-Rue.
Oddly enough “Ruz” means Day.
So, Ruz Ruz is Day Day. So you are Ruz[sup]2[/sup]!
You’re in France, you could tell me. “Rue” means “street”, right?
So I’d be “Steet of Day”. Although “Day” would then be “Jour”. And my “De” would have to be “Du” wouldn’t it?
I’m very complex. In a very bad syntax sort of way.
And you think of me as odd? Well, there is just one of me. One is odd. So I guess you’re right. Unless you stand on the other side. Then you’d be left. (I’m not sure what that makes you if we were to sit face to face.) Not that I’d leave you anywhere. Unless you asked.
So Happy Today, whenever it is.
And if you jump over a fire, take lots of pictures. For insurance purposes.
-Rue.