Sunday 20 March 2016

“No-Rooz” - The Iranian New Year – Customs & Traditions

No-Rooz” - The Iranian New Year – Customs & Traditions

For the past few years I have been fortunate enough to be invited to celebrate the Iranian New Year with some Iranians living in Norwich,     Norfolk. The following article was put together by an Iranian colleague:
No-Rooz”, means 'New Day'. It is the new day that starts the year, traditionally the exact astronomical beginning of Spring. Iranians take that as the beginning of the New Year. This exact second is called "Saal Tahvil". No-Rooz with its' uniquely Iranian characteristics has been celebrated for at least 3,000 years and is deeply rooted in the rituals and traditions of the Zoroastrian This was the religion of ancient Persia before the advent of Islam in 7th century A.D. 

Iranians consider No-Rooz as their biggest celebration of the year. Before the new year they start cleaning their houses,
Khaane Tekaani, and they buy new clothes. But a major part of New Year rituals is setting the "Haft Seen" with 7

Haft Seen table

specific items. In ancient times each of the items corresponded to one of the seven creations and the seven holy immortals protecting them. Today they have changed and modified but some have kept their symbolism. All the seven items start with the letter "S": Seeb (apple), Sabze (green grass), Serke (vinegar), Samanoo (a meal made out of wheat), Senjed (a special kind of berry), Sekke (coin), and Seer (garlic). Sometimes instead of Serke some use Somagh (sumak, an Iranian spice).

Wheat or lentil representing new growth is grown in a flat dish a few days before the New Year and is called
Sabzeh (green shoots). Decorated with colourful ribbons, it is kept until Sizdah beh dar, the 13th day of the New Year. Also, a few live gold fish in a fish bowl. In the olden days they would be returned to the riverbanks, but today most people will keep them. Mirrors are placed on the Sofreh (table spread) and lit with candles as a symbol of fire. Most of the people used to place Qoran in order to bless the New Year. But some people found another alternative to Qoran and replaced it by the Divan-e Hafez (poetry book of Hefez), and during "Saal Tahvil" reading some verses from it was popular. Nowadays, a great number of Iranians are placing Shahnameh (the Epic of Kings) of Ferdowsi on their spread as an Iranian national book. They believe that Shahnameh has more Iranian identity values and spirits, and is much suitable for this ancient celebration. 

After the Saal Tahvil, people hug and kiss each other and wish each other a 'Happy New Year'. Then they exchange presents (traditionally cash, coins or gold coins), usually older ones give to the younger ones. The first few days are spent visiting older members of the family, relatives and friends. Children receive presents and sweets, special meals and "Aajil" (a combination of different nuts with raisins and other sweet stuff) or fruits are consumed. Traditionally on the night before the New Year, most Iranians will have Sabzi Polo Mahi, a special dish of rice cooked with fresh herbs and served with smoked and freshly fried fish. Koukou Sabzi, a mixture of fresh herbs with eggs fried or baked, is also served. The next day rice and noodles (Reshteh Polo) is served. Regional variations exist and very colourful feasts are prepared.

The 13th day of the new year is called
"Sizdah Bedar" and spent mostly outdoors. People will leave their homes to go to the parks or local plains for a festive picnic. It is a must to spend Sizdah Bedar enjoying nature.

No-Rooz Greetings:

  • No-Rooz Mobarak” - Happy No-Rooz, Happy New Year

  • Eid-eh Shoma Mobarak” - Happy New Year to you

  • No-Rooz Pirooz” - Wishing you a Prosperous New Year

  • Sad Saal be in Saal-ha” - Wishing you 100 more Happy New Years.

May 2016 continue to be a good one for you.




Saturday 5 March 2016

Tinnitus – a personal perspective

Tinnitus – a personal perspective

I was recently asked to do my talk on 'relaxation and stress-management' to a local tinnitus support group. This request has motivated me to explore what it means to have this condition. I know that my hearing is very important to me and on the rare occasion when my hearing had been affected by a heavy cold I'm aware of slight deafness and sounds that are not normally there. Fortunately after a few days I recover but this is not a case with many people. CW is one of these people. I met CW some time ago at a local allotment scheme where we are both members and this is what she says about living with this condition:-

Thanks for asking me about tinnitus. I try not to think about it but it has been interesting putting these thoughts down. …..

I’ve lived with a sharp hissing in one ear for over 40 years, when I went completely deaf in my right ear, and a less sharp hiss in the other for about five years. I probably had ear problems since I was a baby because I had a lot of earache and a doctor found I was lip-reading at some point in my childhood. Up until I retired 10 years ago I was working and travelling and generally being more energetic than I am now so I probably didn’t notice the tinnitus as much as in recent years. I certainly notice the noise when I’m talking/writing about it, like now!! And I notice it at night when all is supposed to be silent.

I remember going to a self-help group in Sheringham about 25 years ago but I found that talking about tinnitus made me quite depressed so I decided not to go any more. I am an outgoing and optimistic person, and being active and having lots of interests helped, and still helps, distract from the noise. At home, I have the radio on, and I like to be outside, whatever the weather, in the garden, the city or on the allotment where there is low to medium background noise. Obviously loud noise is to be avoided. As we get older, hearing often deteriorates and the downside of being sociable is that hearing speakers and people I’m with, is now very hard work. I need to see someone’s face to hear properly and there mustn’t be background music or clatter, as in many cafes, for instance. Lots of people do not enunciate their words (you could say mumble!) and not only do I struggle to hear, but voices have to be sharp enough to override the tinnitus as well.

We can get ringing in our ears as a result of various things but there is no cure for tinnitus caused by ear damage, as far as I know. The brain develops coping strategies but I can only say that it’s important to get out and about, do things, keep busy and keep positive. While I can never experience the silence of mountains in winter, which is where I first realised I had bad tinnitus (I was working in Geneva), I can appreciate the sounds of nature whether in the garden or in the countryside of on the coast: wind in the trees, birdsong, water – these things make life enjoyable and well worth living”. (CW)