It gives us great pleasure to announce that Persian Abrisham is celebrating its 21st year in business this spring. To express our appreciation we offer some special gifts These include less commonly available solid gold and select pieces of Persian carpets with the purchase of one Persian carpet. This arrangement commences on March 20 and ends April 4. All Persian carpets in our store are directly imported from Iran.

March 20 marks the New Year in Iran, and it is called “Nowruz”. We look forward to welcoming you in the store at the New Year.

　The New Year in Iran is called Nowruz and it represents A “New Day”. It marks the first day of spring astrologically. The length of day and night is exactly the same, and it is exactly the same day as the Vernal Equinox Day in Japan.

The history of “Nowruz” goes back at least 3,000 years a go. According to the one of cultural heritages in Iran “Shahnameh” (the anthology written by Ferdowsy 1,000 years ago), legend has it that men and women celebrated on the day when the King, Jamshid put on a crown, and the sunlight shined upon it.

The King, Cyrus The Second decided “Nowruz” to be a national holiday in 538 B.C., and it is carved on the wall of Persepolis ruins. “Nowruz” is the most important celebration for Iranians.

Seven things that start with the initial letter ” S” are decorated in the house during “Nowruz”. We call them “Haft Sin”. The number “7″ is considered as a sacred number for Iranians. It is said that there may be a god or an angel of seven Zen in Ahura Mazda, who is the god of the Zoroastrianism. The origin of “Haft Sin” seems to come from there. These seven things must all be plants. The plants and these symbolized meanings are as follows.

1 Sieb (apple) beauty 2 Sabze (green) reproduction 3 Samanoo (cake made from malt and wheat), richness 4, Senjed (gummy candy), love 5, Seer (garlic), cleanness, health 6, Serke (vinegar), ..pleasure.. 7, Sonbol (Hyacinth) spring.

There are other seven things, which are also decorated in the house beyond the plants.

1 mirror (My conscience is projected) 2 goldfish (god in the sea, angel, and life) 3 candle (light and brightness) 4 Orangefloated on water (earth on space) 5 Supando] (The plant variety is burnt and Bad luck and wrong nature are exterminated) 6 egg (descendant prosperity) 7 various cakes (good harvest).

It is a custom in Iran to visit relatives houses on the New Year’s Day. Children are presented gifts. The custom in Iran is similar to the custom in Japan. On New Year’s Day Iranians eat smoked fish, fried and grilled egg, and fresh herb dishes with rice.

After the “Nowruz”, an event Similar to Cherry Blossom Viewing- in Japan called ““Sizdah Bedar” is held in Iran on the 13th day after new Year. The number “13” is an unlucky number in Iran. In order to pull through it and to exercise any demons from an Iranian Houses ,Iranians have a picnic. During the picnic people tie the leaves of the wheat sprout which grows up on the New Year, They wish their prayers come true.

After the “Nowruz”, Cherry Blossom Viewing-like event called “Sizdah Bedar” is held in Iran on the 13th day from the New Year. The number “13” is an unlucky number in Iran. In order to pull through it, and to exorcise demon from a house Iranians have a picnic. During the picnic people tie the leaf of wheat sprout, which grows up on the New Year, to hope their wishes come true.