The vendors selling New Year items like fresh herbs and colored eggs and live fish. The town and bazaar atmosphere and feeling will change weeks before New Year.
Norooz has its own particular dishes, too. "Sabzi-Polo Mahi", rice with green herbs and fish, is served on the night just preceding Norooz, or on the same Norooz day.
The young call on the elder first to demonstrate the respect that Iranians pay to the aged people. Older give "Eidi", new-year gift to younger and this is another characteristic feature of Norooz.
The origin of Norooz goes back several thousand years predating the Achaemenian Dynasty.
Today, the tradition is continued through the setting of a special table or spread with an arrangement of specific symbolic items, seven of which have names that start with the Persian letter Seen (s).
These are:
Sabzeh - Wheat or lentils grown in a tray or dish prior to Norooz to represent rebirth.
Samanu - A sweet pudding made from wheat germ, symbolizing affluence.
Senjed - The dried fruit of the lotus tree which represents love.
Seer - Meaning garlic in Persian, and represents medicine.
Seeb - Meaning apple in Persian, and represents beauty and health.
Somaq - Sumac berries, which represent the color of the sun rise.
Serkeh - Meaning vinegar in Persian, and represents age and patience.
Sonbol - The hyacinth flower with its strong fragrance heralding the coming of spring.
Sekkeh - Coins representing prosperity and wealth.