Prof. Dr. Nima Nezafati shares a message on what this celebration means and how we can embrace renewal.
Nima Nezafat's Haft-Seen table
Perhaps Nowruz can be seen as a joyful reminder that, as part of nature itself, we too are granted the chance to renew and prosper with the arrival of spring - the dawn of a new year. And perhaps, by reflecting on our thoughts and actions, we may embrace this renewal more fully.
For Nowruz, we traditionally prepare a special table called Haft-Seen, which literally means "a table set with seven items beginning with the letter ‘S’" (in Persian). These items, naturally available at the end of winter and the beginning of spring, include:
Sprouted grains or beans grown on a dish (symbolizing rebirth and growth),
Wheat germ sweet pudding (Samanu)
Oleaster (Senjed), Vinegar (Serkeh), Apple (Seeb), Garlic (Seer), Sumac (Somaq).
Decorated or colored eggs
Additionally, the table is often decorated with flowers (especially hyacinths), coins, a clock, a mirror, and a (holy) book.
At the moment, I am traveling to Dresden to participate in the Archäometrie und Denkmalpflege conference. As a result, I will not be home for Nowruz to prepare a Haft-Seen table for myself. Nevertheless, I am sharing a picture of the table I set up last year.
Happy Nowruz to all who are celebrating!
Best wishes
Nima Nezafati
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Prof. Dr. Nima Nezafati (He/Him) Deputy Head of the Research Department of Archaeometallurgy And: Honorary Professor, RUB (Ruhr University Bochum), Institute of Archaeological Sciences. DEUTSCHES BERGBAU-MUSEUM BOCHUM Leibniz-Forschungsmuseum für Georessourcen Am Bergbaumuseum 31 44791 Bochum