Nowruz Celebration Blends Learning with Traditional Activities, Haft-Seen Tables, and Treats

 

St. Margaret’s students celebrated Nowruz this week, learning about the holiday, tasting a selection of Persian snacks and taking part in fun activities this week. 

Nowruz runs for 13 days starting on March 20. The holiday, also known as the Persian New Year, marks the first day of spring and is observed by more than 300 million people worldwide. 

The history and traditions of Nowruz were shared with St. Margaret’s community, including a Lower School Chapel homily by Amytis Behbahani ‘27 and Saba Farjami ’27, and stories in Middle School and Upper School Chapel shared by Mateen Shorooghi ’27 and Blake Mashour ’29. In addition, haft-seen tables were arranged in the Library and in each division, including an All-School haft-seen in the Cloobeck Family Atrium of the Performing Arts Center.

Students had a chance to also try traditional Persian meals provided by parent volunteers such as adas polo, a traditional dish made with basmati rice, lentils, caramelized onions, raisins and dates, as well as Persian cookies. 

Nowruz, meaning “new day,” is celebrated on the day of the astronomical vernal equinox and promotes values such as peace, renewal and solidarity.