Persian New Year at Children 1st @ Grantham

Early Years have been learning about Norooz, the Persian New Year which marks the first day of Spring.

Inka’s mum very kindly brought in a book about this festival and some items for us all to look at and talk about.

During the celebration a special table called ‘Haft sin’ is prepared. This is a table setting with 7 different items all beginning with the letter S. Each item represents the good things which will happen in the New Year.

These are:

An apple for beauty and health (Sib/Seeb)

Green shoots for rebirth (Sabzi)

Dried fruit from a lotus tree for love (Senjed)

Garlic for protection and medicine (Sir/Seer)

Vinegar for age, maturity and wisdom (Serkeh)

Sweet pudding for fertility and wealth (Samanoo)

The sumac plant for the sunrise of a New Year (Soumagh)

The children enjoyed talking about these items and listening to the story.

Then it was time to get busy decorating eggs using bright colours. The children also carefully painted pictures of a hyacinth, a flower which symbolises the beauty of Spring  (Sonbol).

They then helped to make a pretend bonfire on the field and had fun jumping over it. This is to signify the start of the New Year in Persian culture.

Thank-you so much to Inka’s mum for sharing this Persian celebration with us.