Celebrating Compassion

                                               To Mariam Joon,

The world would be brighter if we took the time to learn and understand other cultures. So, with the Persian New Year approaching, I began to research how Nowruz is celebrated.

Beyond the haftsin table and the celebration of the first day of spring, it reminds us of everything we have in common. It encourages us to be good to others and honor values of peace, human rights, and dignity.

I decided to create a haftsin table in my store. I reached out to my Iranian friends and customers for their guidance.

I shopped at Beverly Hills Market since I knew the owner would direct me to the Seven (haft) items that begin with “S” (sin) that are necessary to set my table.

Samanu (سمنو): sweet wheat pudding -- the symbol of power and strength.
Senjed (سنجد): sweet dry fruit of the lotus tree -- the symbol of love.
Somāq (سماق): crushed spice of berries -- the symbol of sunrise.
Serkeh (سرکه): vinegar -- the symbol of age and patience.
Seeb (سیب): apple -- the symbol of beauty.
Seer (سیر): garlic -- the symbol of health and medicine.

The Sabzeh (سبزه): sprouted wheat grass -- the symbol of rebirth and growth, I sourced at the Elat Market as seeds. Since I don’t have green thumbs, I asked my horticultist boyfriend to grow them.

There are other items that don't start with "S" but are always on the table.

Eggs (تخم‌مرغ رنگی): the symbol of fertility.
Mirror (آینه): the symbol of self-reflection.
Candle (شمع): the symbol of enlightenment.
Goldfish (ماهی قرمز): the symbol of progress.
Book (کتاب): the symbol of wisdom.

I also discovered that there are items that are often found on the table like

Sonbol (سنبل): hyacinth -- the symbol of spring's arrival.
Sekkeh (سکه): coins -- the symbol of wealth and prosperity.

I set the table as you walk into my shop. Since one friend told me she doesn’t like to use live fish on her table, I decided to place a water jug in the shape of a fish on mine. Another girlfriend said she places a Hafez poetry book on her table. Since the books I ordered haven’t arrived, I improvised with That Nich Han’s Being Peace.

The elegant table stops you when you walk in. You can’t help but admire Greek jewelry designer Lito’s eye mirror nor the new Michael Aram gilded tulip candlesticks. My Iranian customers are impressed by the bright green sabzeh and delighted by the Happy Nowruz coins. But what they appreciate the most is my effort to learn about Persian culture.

In the process of tablescaping, I’ve had multiple conversations about fleeing Iran and the journeys that led to coming to the United States. I’m embarrassed to say that I thought everyone flew Swiss Air through Geneva. I just learned of traveling for weeks by camel to the Pakistan border; of children fleeing to Turkey without their parents; of smugglers robbing and worse.

I now can’t help but wonder what my Iranian customers’ stories are when they pass through my door. Did they escape on horseback in the middle of the night too? Risking death was a better option than staying in 1979,1981,1986 Iran.

Nowruz for me has taken on a new meaning beyond a New Year celebration. It literally means New Day and as the sumac spice, the symbol of sunrise, reminds us, each day holds the potential to be the best day ever.

Scroll back up and read the meanings of the items on the haftsin table through the eyes of a refugee.

We are all children of people who suffered and sacrificed. Let’s honor our ancestors by welcoming, protecting, and respecting people from different cultures and communities.

Through our compassion, we can be a light to the oppressed and persecuted.

Nowruz begins at 2:24pm on March 20^th this year. Set your alarm and take a moment to appreciate just how beautiful the meaning of this holiday is.