Nowruz - Persian New Year
Nowruz, which means "new day," is the Persian New Year and is celebrated on the vernal equinox, usually on March 21st. This year, in Chicago, it’s at 10:06PM on Monday, March 19th. Celebrated by people of various ethnicities and religions for more than 3000 years, including Iranians, Kurds, Tajiks, Afghans, and Zoroastrian, it is a joyous occasion that marks the beginning of spring. Nowruz holidays last thirteen days in Iran.
Nowruz is a time for families to come together, exchange gifts, and share traditional meals. It is also a time for cleaning and decluttering, as well as setting new goals for the year ahead. Many people prepare a Haft-Seen table, which is a display of seven symbolic items that start with the letter "S" in Persian. Those seven items are sabzeh (sprouts), samanu (wheat germ pudding), senjed (oleaster), serkeh (vinegar), seeb (garlic), and somagh (sumac.) Sekkeh (coins), sombol (hyacinth), and sowat (clock) are sometimes included as well or used to replace some of the other items. A Haft-Seen table also typically includes a mirror, candles, painted eggs, goldfish, traditional Persian confections, and a book of wisdom. You’ll find most of those items on the haftseen at Maman Zari.
Nowruz has become an important symbol of Iranian identity, and it has been celebrated by Iranians all over the world. It is an occasion to honor one's roots, preserve traditions, and pass them on to the next generation. In many ways, Nowruz is a celebration of the human spirit, resilience, and optimism in the face of adversity.
As a restaurant heavily influenced by the dishes and flavors of Iran, Nowruz is a time for us to set our goals as a restaurant, and we’re excited to have our doors open this year so that we can present guests with a tasting menu inspired by these meals.