Five Customs of the Persian New Year

The , also known as Nowruz (which means "new day" in Farsi), is a holiday that's recognized in the United States.

The Nowruz Resolution was passed by both houses of Congress in March 2012, marking the first time the federal government officially celebrated the holiday. 

Nowruz takes place Tuesday, March 20 at 8:44:27 a.m. in Tehran, which is 10:14:27 p.m. Monday, March 19 in Los Angeles. The holiday celebrates the arrival of spring.

There's going to be a celebration of Nowruz on Westwood Boulevard on Sunday. For more information on that event, click here.

Here are a few things you might not have known about Nowruz:

1. Haft Seen: For Nowruz, households will display various symbolic items on a large table. The setting is called the haft seen.

As part of the haft seen, seven dishes are displayed that stand for the seven heralds of life: rebirth, health, happiness, prosperity, joy, patience and beauty.

2. Fish for New Year's Eve: The main course for Persian New Year's Eve dinner is usually a rice dish made with fish and green herbs. 

3. House Visits: For the first 12 days of a new Persian year, people are supposed to visit family members and friends, starting with the most elderly. The house visits, which are usually reciprocated, never take place at a meal time, so only tea and snacks need to be served to guests.

4. Money for Children: It's a Nowruz custom to give children money for the new year.

5. An Outing: The Nowruz celebration ends on its 13th day with an outing activity that normally includes a picnic. 

Are you celebrating Nowruz in Westwood? Tell us what it's like in the comments section below.

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