Ancient Iran has many festivals and holidays and in Iranian culture, each festival has a special symbol. The seven-sin table is one of the precious heritages of our ancestors, each of which is a symbol of each of the beauties of creation. Have you ever thought about the background of Nowruz celebration and Haft Sin table? Setting the Nowruz table will be beautiful if you get to know more ideas and find out the reasons for placing each item on the table. Nowruz travel is another thing that can be done during the New Year holidays. Iran Hotel Online is with you on this trip by booking hotels in Kish such as Taraj Kish Hotel, Dariush Hotel, etc. and wishes you the best of travels.
Haft Sin is one of the most famous customs that is observed at the beginning of the new solar year. On the Haft Sin table, items that start with the letter (S) are arranged, such as: garlic, apples, coins, etc. In some root searches, Haft Sin has been associated with Haft Chin, which means seven picks. In the Sasanian religion, the number seven was considered sacred, and people planted seven seeds on seven different pillars during this period. It should be noted that except for the cases where sin is used at the beginning of their names, most people put mirrors and candlesticks, Quran, water tights and red fish, sweets, etc. on the Haft Sin table.
There is still no detailed information about the history of the Haft Sin table; But some researchers believe that the ancient Iranians prepared a table every year to magnify nature and its blessings, and each of its components started with different letters. The first signs of a table whose elements all started with the letter Sin date back to the 8th and 9th centuries. It should be noted that the number seven was sacred to the ancient Iranians and had great importance.
Apple: Apple is a symbol of health and well-being, and its existence among Haft Sin is for the health of family members in the new year, to protect them from injury and illness.
Green: The most beautiful symbol of the Haft Sin table is green, which is a symbol of life and freshness. Most Iranians use this symbol to have a happy and refreshing year. Green is also a symbol of the angel of May.
Semnu: Semnu is a symbol of good and blessing. Iranians prepare this substance by cooking wheat sprouts a few days before the beginning of the new year, and they believe that placing it on the Haft Sin table will increase blessings in their lives.
Vinegar: Vinegar is a symbol of immortality. In the past, vinegar was used to nullify magic. Placing this symbol on the Haft Sin table will make the misfortunes of the New Year disappear.
Garlic: Garlic is a symbol of Ahura Mazda and a symbol of well-being and health. Most of the ancients used the medicinal properties of garlic to treat some diseases; Therefore, this substance can be used to have a disease-free year on the Haft Sin table.
Coin: Coin is one of the symbols of sustenance. People have placed coins in the middle of their table so that they will have a good income in the new year and their sustenance will be increased by God.
Sumac: Sumac is a symbol and spice of happiness, patience and perseverance. The existence of this substance on the Haft Sin table was for the purpose of following the coming year with the utmost joy and perseverance in the face of hardships.
Sanjad: Sanjad is known by two symbols among people. Most people consider Sanjad to be a symbol of love and affection and put it on the Haft Sin table in order to increase interest among family members. But some other people believe that Sanjad is a symbol of rationality; Therefore, putting it on the table can make all the decisions of the person in the new year based on rationality.
The history of setting the Haft Sin table is not known correctly. Some researchers believe that in order to honor the blessings of Mother Earth, Iranian naturalists set a table with seven symbols that began with different letters, and the first letter of the components of this table was not necessarily Sin.
Mention of Haft Sin was first seen in writings left from the 8th and 9th centuries. In these writings, Haft Sin is mentioned and it is mentioned that all the components of the table begin with Sin. It is said that the table components, except that they must start with sin, have plant roots, are edible and useful for the body.
In finding the root of Haft Sin, some people have related it to Haft Sini and some have considered its origin to be Haft Mim. Some others believe that the root of Haft Chin means stacking, but of course, all of this remains theoretical and has not been proven.
Apart from the fact that the components of the table start with sin, it is also interesting that they have seven numbers. It is said that seven had a special importance for the Sasanians. In addition to the Sasanians, seven is also considered a sacred number among many peoples.
Iranians are not the only ones who celebrate Nowruz. Afghans, Tajiks, Azerbaijanis and many other ethnic groups who share a common culture and background with Iranians celebrate Nowruz. However, according to Iranica encyclopedia, these ethnic groups did not have the custom of setting the Haft Sin table, and even among Iranians, the Kurds did not set the Haft Sin table.
Haftsin green is reminiscent of nature's greenery and growth. Green is actually a symbol of regeneration and rebirth, which is not unrelated to the rebirth of the earth in spring. The presence of Sabzeh among Haft Sin is the reason why the next year will be fresh, green and fresh. Also, green color is one of the relaxing colors and seeing it in the middle of the table makes the soul light and cheerful. On the 13th day of April, many make a wish while tying green grass and then put it in running water.
In the belief of many people and old legends, apples represent beauty; For this reason, many times to show the beauty of a person, they compare him to an apple. Apple is a symbol of beauty and health in the Haft Sin table. In fact, by leaving apples, the family tries to avoid harm and bites. Since grandmothers and grandfathers are always worried about the health of children and grandchildren, it is customary for grandfathers and grandmothers to put apples on the table.
The red fish, which was probably added to the Haft Sin table of Iranians less than a century ago, is originally a symbol of the Chinese New Year; But its statue has existed in Iran since the past and it lives in various rivers and lakes throughout Iran. Red fish is a symbol of freshness, effort, movement and movement. Usually, fish is placed in a clear tank and its presence on the table is to start the year with energy and vitality.
Setting the Haft Sin table is one of the tasks that the whole family can participate in to strengthen the spirit of empathy in the family. Also, the Haft Sin table is one of the best elements for photography and making memories in the New Year. We hope that you will eat your Haft Sint with a happy heart.
Update: Aug 28
Credits: https://www.cyruscrafts.com/blog/handicrafts/haft-sin-shine-of-the-persian-new-year
