Nowrooz Table Setting called Haft Seen
I’m an Iranian mom living in Vancouver BC. I believe in happiness and that we have to do what ever we can to bring more happiness in our lives and homes. So even before I had kids I put Christmas tree and had my in-laws and parents over for Christmas dinner, but we celebrate Nowrooz, the first day of Spring, as our New Year and the most important holiday. It was all fine until this year. My son is 3 years old and he now understands Santa and Holidays, this year he wanted it all, we took Santa pictures, as usual, we put a Christmas tree and all. It was nice and he loved, I loved it too! He was so excited about Santa that I couldn’t believe it, the year before in our Santa picture he was crying afraid of Santa. Christmas ended and I noticed that Christmas was such a big event for him and it was so musical and colorful and most of all was a national holiday and he was talking about it weeks after.
I love that he loves Christmas it should be like that, but I also want him to know where we are from and our culture and our holidays. So I started talking about Nowrooz although it was two months ahead, I explained everything very colorful and exciting. We have a Character for Nowrooz similar to Santa called Amoo Nowrooz, the difference is that in Iran no body believes that Amoo Nowrooz brings gifts; Amoo Nowrooz is a simbole of Spring, he bring Spring with himself.
I made a twist and told him that in Nowrooz AmooNowrooz will bring him gifts. I had two months to make Nowrooz colorful and exciting and I think I did a good job because he can’t stop talking about Nowrooz and the upcoming of Amoo Nowrooz. My plan is to include him as much as possible and give him more presents so the event will be marked in his memory.
Nowrooz is the most celebrated event in Iran, specially between us Zoroastrians, you can feel it in peoples voices and faces and the nature. I remember when I was a kid there was no need for extra effort to get me interested in Nowrooz. Schools are closed for two weeks and everyone is talking about Nowrooz and spring, and trees and flowers are blooming.
I kind of want to give my children the Nowrooz experience that I had as a child how much I will succeed? I don’t know but at least I tried. I guess the important thing is that they are exposed to many different cultures and that helps them to have an open mind about all other cultures, and in a way may make them interested enough to research their culture.
Happy Nowrooz/Happy Spring
Until later
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