Haft-sin
haft seen haft sin persian هفت‌سین arrangement seven symbolic item name start letter س pronounced seen th letter persian alphabet haft هفت persian seven traditionally displayed nowruz iranian new year celebrated day vernal equinox marking beginning spring northern hemisphere following primary item haftseen whose persian name begin letter persian alphabet sabzeh سبزه – wheat barley mung bean lentil sprout grown dish samanu سمنو – wheat germ sweet pudding senjed سنجد – oleaster serkeh سرکه – vinegar seeb سیب – apple seer سیر – garlic somagh سماق – sumac coin سکه sekke hyacinth سنبل sonbol clock ساعت suat also pronounced soat sometimes included symbolic item typically used accompany haftsin include mirror candle painted egg goldfish traditional persian confection book wisdom also commonly included might avesta shahnameh quran divān hafez one wellknown tradition celebrated start new solar year “haft sin” item begin letter apple garlic coin organized sofre haftsin haft sin connected word “haft chin” denotes seven pick certain root search seven regarded sacred number sasanian faith time individual planted seven seed seven distinct pillar iranian offer haft sin either twelve sacred tower number number seven amshaspand first day spring placed item like greenery water signifying growth light milk signifying rebirth resurrection rebirth fire pit signifying sustainability heat light mirror signifying purity transparency freshly struck coin symbolizing possession blessing egg signifying race sperm oleaster signifying endearment fertility birth apple signifying mystery love pomegranate signifying sanctity orange representing earth sphere specific esfand flower signifying amshaspand sepandarms table fish signifying end esfand month addition holy book item sofreh haft sin bread baked seven grain cheese sugar date rose water olive branch holy pomegranate tree willow fig bunch seven twelve three according legend haft shin table used persian given new name haft shin table’s component candle sham wine sharab nectar shahd syrup sharbat sweet shirini boxwood shamshad anemone shaqayegh plant branch shakhenabat haft shin first gained popularity among iranian sassanid era shamshad set table alongside shin nowruz representation longevity greenness persian used prepare “seven candles” table sassanid era advent islam contained wine candle sharbat boxwood nectar anemone persian alphabet “shin” changed “sin” islam introduced iran “wine” declared unlawful point twin vinegar put table afghanistan people prepare haft mēwa persian هفت‌میوه literally translates seven fruit addition instead haft seen common iran haft mewa like fruit salad made seven different dried fruit served syrup seven dried fruit raisin senjed dried fruit oleaster tree pistachio hazelnut prune dried apricot walnut either almond another specie plum fruit passover seder plate aesthetically similar except element animal sacrifice practice strictly banned zoroastrian display jewish holiday passover seven food specie deuteronomy jew traditionally eat tu bishvat jewish new year tree roughly januaryfebruary sukkot festival booth harvestautumn shavuot festival week roughly seven week start passover twelvedish christmas eve supper shahbazi shapur march haft sin encyclopaedia iranica vol xi pp –