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Harsal Yeki az doostane golemoon threade countdowne Norouz ro mizad. vali emsal moteasefaneh kasi in karo nakard baraye hamin man tasmim gereftam ke khodam bezanam.

Pishapish fara residane saale no ro tabrik migam. Big Grin

Norouz 2569 (1389) will begin on: با شادباش نوروز - تحويل سال نو
تحويل سال نو ۲۵۶۹ - ساعت ۹ و ۲ دقيقه و ۰۰ ثانيه بعد از ظهر شنبه اول فروردين ۱۳۸۹ در ايران

Tehran: Saturday: 09:02:00 PM March 20, 2010
New York: Saturday 01:32:00 PM March 20, 2010
Chicago: Saturday 12:32:00 PM March 20, 2010
Denver: Saturday 11:32:00 AM March 20, 2010
Los Angeles: Saturday 10:32:00 AM March 20, 2010
London: Saturday 05:32:00 PM March 20, 2010
Paris: Saturday 06:32:00 PM March 20, 2010
Rome: Saturday 06:32:00 PM March 20, 2010
Berlin: Saturday 06:32:00 PM March 20, 2010
Athens: Saturday 07:32:00 PM March 20, 2010
Jerusalem: Saturday 07:32:00 PM March 20, 2010
Moscow: Saturday 08:32:00 PM March 20, 2010
Tokyo: Sunday 02:32:00 AM March 21, 2010
Sydney: Sunday 04:32:00 AM March 21, 2010
UTC/GMT: Saturday 05:32:00 PM March 20, 2010

In harmony with the rebirth of nature, the Iranian New Year Celebration, or norouz (NowRuz), always begins on the first day of spring. Nowruz ceremonies are symbolic representations of two ancient concepts - the End and the Rebirth; or Good and Evil. A few weeks before the New Year, Iranians clean and rearrange their homes. They make new clothes, bake pastries and germinate seeds as sign of renewal. The ceremonial cloth is set up in each household. Troubadours, referred to as Haji Firuz, disguise themselves with makeup and wear brightly colored outfits of satin. These Haji Firuz, singing and dancing, parade as a carnival through the streets with tambourines, kettle drums, and trumpets to spread good cheer and the news of the coming new year.
The origins of norouz are unknown, but they go back several thousand years predating the Achaemenian Dynasty. The ancient Iranians had a festival called "Farvardgan" which lasted ten days, and took place at the end of the solar year. It appears that this was a festival of sorrow and mourning, signifying the end of life while the festival of norouz, at the beginning of spring signified rebirth, and was a time of great joy and celebration.

The other ancient symbolic representation of norouz is based around the idea of the triumph of good over evil. According to the Shah-nameh (The Book of Kings), the national Iranian epic by Ferdowsi, norouz came into being during the reign of the mythical King Jamshid; when he defeated the evil demons (divs) seizing their treasures, becoming master of everything but the heavens and bringing prosperity to his people. To reach the heavens, Jamshid ordered a throne to be built with the jewels he had captured. He then sat on the throne and commanded the demons to lift him up into the sky. When the sun's rays hit the throne, the sky was illuminated with a multitude of colours. The people were amazed at the King's power and they showered him with even more jewels and treasures. This day of great celebration was named norouz, and was recognised as the first day of the year.

A ceremonial table called Sofreh-e Haft Cinn (cloth of seven dishes), name of each dish beginning with the Persian letter Cinn.

A few days prior to the New Year, a special cover is spread on to the Persian carpet or on a table in every Persian household. This ceremonial table is called cloth of seven dishes, (each one beginning with the Persian letter cinn). The number seven has been sacred in Iran since the ancient times, and the seven dishes stand for the seven angelic heralds of life-rebirth, health, happiness, prosperity, joy, patience, and beauty.

The symbolic dishes consist of:
1. Sabzeh or sprouts, usually wheat or lentil representing rebirth.
2. Samanu is a pudding in which common wheat sprouts are transformed and given new life as a sweet, creamy pudding and represents the ultimate sophistication of Persian cooking.
3. Seeb means apple and represents health and beauty.
4. Senjed the sweet, dry fruit of the Lotus tree, represents love. It has been said that when lotus tree is in full bloom, its fragrance and its fruit make people fall in love and become oblivious to all else.
5. Seer which is garlic in Persian, represents medicine.
6. Somaq sumac berries, represent the color of sunrise; with the appearance of the sun Good conquers Evil.
7. Serkeh or vinegar, represents age and patience.

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