Happy Nowruz! As we embrace the arrival of spring and the Persian New Year, let’s celebrate growth, renewal, and the beauty of new beginnings. May this Nowruz bring you prosperity, joy, and success in all your endeavors. 
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Thank you Mohammad, and thanks for all of the fabulous TiddlyWiki-based gifts you have shared with us over the years, too!
Have a wonderful year ahead!
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Happy Nowruz Mohammad!
I live near Stockport in the UK. Last week I went to the two Persian shops in Stockport and was very surprised to see a goldfish in a bowl on the counter of the butcher shop! And the shop was looking particiularly clean and tidy.
I went to the other shop across the road. They were selling grass. I tried a bit: it was not a herb. It tasted exactly like grass!
I went in and saw what I now know to be Haft Sin table: goldfish and various other items all bringing with the Persian letter “S”!
Anyway the man in the shop explained and then when I got home I took a deep dive into Persian New Year with the help of TikTok.
I was surprised to see that the festival is over 3000 years old therefore predating Christianity and Islam. I got to see some amazing citizen videos produced across the world all talking about Nowraz.
Since the so called TikTok ban we have various new phenomena : EuroTok, CommonWealthTok and WorldTok. The big idea is that citizens share their everyday life outside the the spectacle created by the orange guy and a particular variety of capitalism supported by a particular type of IT entrepreneur. I am lucky to have slipped down a rather wonderful rabbit hole where I get to see parts of the world through normal peoples lives: this extends to footage of Terhan and it’s markets at the very start of spring. Plenty of goldfish and grass on sale there.
In the UK we do have people who celebrate the seasons based on astronomic events. They gather at locations like Stonehenge and other ancient sites.
I personally and privately like to do things with the seasons and away from organised religious activity. It’s been super interesting and heartwarming to find out about Nowruz and for it being a gateway to find out more about people and places that I would normally only find out about in report of conflict.
Happy Nowruz!
Alex
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Thank you Alex.
Indeed, Nowruz is celebrated by many people around the world and has its origins in ancient times.
One symbol of haft-sin is sabzeh, which literally means a green plant. In reality, it is sprouted wheat.
- Sabzeh (sprouted wheat, lentils, or barley) – Represents renewal and growth. It is usually grown in the days leading up to Nowruz and discarded on the 13th day of the festival.
Alongside the seven “s” items, people often add a mirror to reflect on the past year, painted eggs for fertility, goldfish for new life, and candles to symbolise light and happiness.
Sabzeh
You may read more here: Nowruz: A Celebration Of Spring And Renewal