persian new year 1, a photo from Semnan, East

Photographer's Note

Painted eggs for norouz. the boy is buying some painted eggs for persian new year celebration in 11 hour before start of new year. painted eggs are a item of "Haft Seen" table. painted eggs in "Haft Seen" are perhaps one for each member of the family (fertility). furthermore they beautify form of the Haft Seen".

a major tradition of norouz is the setting of the "haft Seen" - the seven "S"s, seven items starting with letter "S" or "Seen" in persian alphabet), which are seven specific items on a table symbolically corresponding to the seven creations and the seven holy immortals protecting them. today they are changed and modified but some have kept their symbolism. every family attempts to set as beautiful a haft seen table as they can, as it is not only of special spiritual meaning to them, but also is noticed by visitors to their house during norouzi visitations and is a reflection of their good taste.
the following list is an example of some common haft seen items, though there isn't consensus as to which
seven:

sabzeh - wheat, barley or lentil sprouts growing in a dish (symbolising rebirth)
samanu - a sweet pudding made from wheat germ (symbolising affluence)
senjed - the dried fruit of the jujube tree (love)
seer - garlic (medicine)
seeb - apples, (beauty and health)
somaq - sumac berries (the colour of the sunrise)
serkeh - vinegar (age and patience)
sonbol - the fragrant hyacinth flower (the coming of spring)
sekkeh - coins (prosperity and wealth)

other items on the table may include:
pastries
lit candles (enlightenment and happiness)
a mirror
painted eggs, perhaps one for each member of the family (fertility)
a bowl with two goldfish (life, and the sign of pisces which the sun is leaving)
a bowl of water with an orange in it (the earth floating in space)
rose water for its magical cleansing powers
the national colours, for a patriotic touch
a holy book (e.g., the qur'an, bible, torah or the avesta) or a poetry book (almost always either
the shahnama or of hafez)

a sample of "Haft Seen"

Happy Persian New Year (1385)

lestans, sayat, devimeuxbe, Jacobp, banyanman, calimex ha contrassegnato questa nota come utile

Critiques | Translate

edal (6804) 2006-03-20 17:41

Happy Norooz, Saam! Let all your family be happy and healthy! Thank you for the nice photo and the explanation! We soon shall have the painted eggs too for our Easter or as we call it in Bulgaria - The Great Day.
Congratulations!
Anton

mattmorrison (134) 2006-03-21 0:27

What a beautiful picture. I really like the way that the picture captivates the celebration of the moment. I also like to visit all of your pictures as they capture a wide assortment of life in Iran. Thank you very much for sharing!!!!

lestans (17258) 2006-03-22 2:24

Very interesting for me all these information!! I didn't know anything about Persian new year. This is a very good shot in TE spirit. Thank you for sharing such useful notes, and for your picture! Livia

sayat (2949) 2006-03-23 5:10

Very nice note and a good photo. I like th expression on the boy's face. Great light.
Best regards and happy norooz,
Sayat

devimeuxbe (58557) 2006-03-29 11:07

Hi Saam
very interesting scene of this commemoration. Nice POPV.
I wish you happy new year.
BErtrand

Jacobp (798) 2006-07-10 20:46

hi saam
akse radifiye man ke kheyli khosham omad
damet garm
jacob

banyanman (7797) 2006-08-18 11:10

Excellent composition, Saam - well balanced and good DOF - and brilliant note. I like the contrast between the colourful eggs and the grey background. Did you desaturate the background or is the wall really that grey colour? Cheers . . . David