The celebration of the Persian New

The celebration of the Persian New Year is a little different from other New Year celebrations. Persia is the old name for Iran. The Persian New Year is called Nowrooz, which means "new day." Celebration of Nowrooz started about 3,000 years ago. It is a big family celebration, and people return to their hometowns and villages to celebrate the New Year with their family and friends. Nowrooz begins on the third Wednesday in March, which can be between the dates of March 19 and 22 and is the first day of spring. It lasts for thirteen days.
People start preparing for the celebration weeks ahead of time by cleaning their homes. They wash their rugs and curtains, clean their furniture, and often paint the walls of their home. They also make or buy at least one set of new clothes for each person. They bake pastries and put seeds in a pot to grow into green plant as a symbol of spring and new birth.
Weeks before Nowrooz, every household lays special thing on a table to symbolize the holiday season, just as people in the West decorate a Christmas tree. Because seven is a lucky number, there are seven thing on the table beginning with the Persian letter seen (the English "s"). The seven things on the table are samam (a Persian snack made of flour and sugar) , skeh (a coin) , sabzee (green vegetables) , sonbol (a hyacinth flower) , seer (garlic) , senjeed (a dried fruit) , and serkeh (vinegar). Other things are also put on the table, such as apples, sugar cookies, candles, a mirror, and a bowl with goldfish. They say that if you look at the goldfish as the New Year comes, it will bring good luck.
Many people dress up as Hadji Firooz, who is a symbolic character of the New Year, just as Santa Claus is of Christmas. Hadji Firooz wears a red satin costume and has black make up on his face. He sings and dances through the streets, telling everyone that the New Year is coming. Today, people see him in shopping mall, just as you can see Santa Claus in the United Statesor in Britain.
First, on the last Wednesday before Nowrooz, people light fires in pubic places. This is when the celebretion begins. Family members line up and jump over the fire. This is to bring light and happiness throughout the coming year. Children run through the street. They bang on pots and pans with spoons to beat out the last unlucky Wednesday of the year. They knock on doors and ask for treats like candy, just as children do on Halloween in other countries.
Then, on the night before Nowrooz, the whole family gathers around the table with the seven dishes. The oldest person in the family stands up, gives everyone good wishes, and hands out fresh sweets, pastries, and coins. People spend the first few days of the New Year visiting older family members and other ralatives. They give gift and eat wonderful meals.
Finally, thirteen days after the New Year starts, families leave their houses and go outside to a park or somewhere by a river where it is cool and grassy. They have fun by playing games, singing, and dancing. They also have a wonderful picnic and eat and relax; this ends Nowrooz celebration until next year.