Iran_Happy New Year :), a photo from Tehran, East

Photographer's Note

Tehran - Thursday - 09:18:19 AM - March 20, 2008
London - Thursday - 05:48:19 AM - March 20, 2008
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The "Sofreh Haft Sin" is the spread,which the family gathers around to celebrate the New Year.
It is the focal point of the celebration and ensuing visits and as such Iranians take great care and pride in putting together a lavish and elaborate spread to signify all that they want in the New Year.

The word "Haft" means "Seven" and "Sin" stands for the "S" in the alphabet.
"Sofreh" means spread,the floor of which is usually a nice rich material or embroidered fabric.The spread contains the seven specific things that start with "S".
In addition to the seven items, you may place additional items on the sofreh that will signify renewal,happiness,wealth,good health or any thing that you desire for the New Year.

But,a list of suggested items for your sofreh :

1-Sabzeh:Spring Sprouts:Made from wheat or lentil this S signifies rebirth and renewal.

2-Senjed: A sweet,dry fruit of a lotus tree:
The fragrant and blooming lotus tree makes people fall in love so it is natural that its fruit would signify love and affection !

3-Sib: Apple:A big red apple represents health and beauty.
4-Samanu:Wheat Pudding:Wheat and wheat products signify sweetness and fertility.

5-Serkeh: Vinegar:White Vinegar signifies age and patience.
6-Somagh:Crushed Sumac berries:This S symbolizes the spice of life. Some say Somagh represents the color of the sunrise and with the sun all evil is conquered.

7-Seer:Garlic:This medicinal S is a sign of good health.
8-Optional S:Sekeh:Coins:Wealth and Prosperity
9-Optional S:Sonbol:Hyacinth Flower:Purple or pink represent life and beatuy.

10-Head of the Sofreh:A Mirror To bring light & brightness into the New Year.
11-Head of the Sofreh:Scriptures:Qoran,Bible,Torah, Avesta or other Scriptures:Symbolizes blessings and faith in the New Year.
12-....

:)
Happy New Year to Iranian all,
And Happy new Spring to all of my friends in the world.

Monziii, MiguelP, ChrisJ, frieda, japiey, worldcitizen, dokadak, enedimd, vhemmati, berek, Vasa, efi, Gregtom, Tobias__Ortmann has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

Monziii (109) 2008-03-20 1:38

Salam
Eide shoma mobarak, omidvaram ke sale khoshi dashte bashid va zendegiton hamishe mesle bahar sabz bashe!

MiguelP (14470) 2008-03-20 2:02

Thanks Mohammad, there is such a joy coming out of this photo, the woman and the boy giving a vitality moment... Happy new year for you and yes, happy springtime for all of us, it´s my favourite season of the year. Thanks.

ChrisJ (159862) 2008-03-20 3:11

Hi Mohammad

The tilt adds dynamism. Good colour, sharpness & pov. Tfs!

brandstaetter (15915) 2008-03-20 3:46

Happy new year, for you Mohammad and your family, thanks for the explanation and that lovely glimpse into Iranian family life :)
good perspective, good mood !
Cheers Chris

japiey (10163) 2008-03-20 6:47

Dear M,

Happy New Year to your lovely Land...
Well shot, that has the smiles pouring out at us from the distance...
Smiles to the bliss!!
Hope Rayan is fine :)

All the best, dear friend.

jp

Cretense (68709) 2008-03-20 11:40

Hi Mohammad!

Happy new year!!! I wish all the best to you and your loved ones! Beautiful photo, unusual but great perspective, great light managment, of course the strongest part, is the lady with the baby on the upper right part (wife and child ?). Very interesting note, too! Congratulations!

Hercules

dokadak (11518) 2008-03-20 16:13

Salam Mohammad,

What a lovely composition...
Great colors, good details...
We also celebrate it caling Nevruz.. and wish "Eide shoma mobarak" for you and for your family...

regards
hasan

PixelTerror (0) 2008-03-23 9:33

Hi Mohammad,
Happy new year to you !
I like the idea of your composition with the mother+child pair in the far background and the loaded table as a laed in, pity thouth the background zone is overexposed
Best wishes JY

enedimd (1532) 2008-03-23 12:17

Hi dear Mohammad,
HAPPY NEW YEAR to you and all your Family...
Very good shot with colors, sharpness and POV. Congrats,
Best friendly wishes.
Emir Nedim

PS : Is this your sun Rayan in the shot? He grows up.

berek (50518) 2008-03-23 22:46

Hi Mohammad,
its a good idea my friend . HAPPY NEW YEAR TO IRANIAN ALLLLLL TO .
have a nice week.
Burak Erek

toto (0) 2008-03-26 2:41

Bonsoir,
belle photo de cet intérieur de maison préparée pour le nouvel an Iranien, maison ou la joie de vivre semble règner et cela fait plaisir a voir.
Jolies couleurs et bonne netteté qui montre bien les détails de cette jolie maison bien agencée.
Bonne et heureuse année a vous, votre famille et ba tous les gens que vous aimez.

Amitiés Thomas
Je reviens

Romatou (0) 2008-03-31 11:59

Hi Mohammad,

Cosy scene and great photo ! I do love the lighting here and compo too . Congratulations for all , Picture , note ... and best wishes for this moment !

Toutes mes amitiés ,

Vasa (515) 2008-04-07 16:01

Thanks a lot dear friend Mohammad for this lovely photo and the note. Have a good year with my best wishes! To you end your family. Friendly

Branko

efi (5303) 2008-04-09 0:46

mrhb muhammed;
happy new year..i first saw the garlic than the others learning a tradition of your culture made me very happy.tfs..

Bluejeans (64251) 2008-04-13 15:36

Ola Mohammad,
It´s your house and your wife and sun? :)
Happy new year delay :)
Good perspective and colors.
Parabéns!!!
Um abraço Gonçalo

Gregtom (7169) 2008-04-13 23:07

Hello, Mohammad!
Thanks for the lesson of Iranian tradition, nicely illustrated by this photo. But i can see not only tradition in this picture - I can see the part of ordinary life with mother love in the background!
regards,
Greg

Tobias__Ortmann (2638) 2008-04-14 4:50

Hi mohammad,
very good artistic shot nice view great effect nice colours wihtgood contrast and in the background the scene with the children is very nice too
tfs Toba

dvlazar (6662) 2008-04-17 22:38

Hey,
Thanks for sharing this cultrually interesting shot. I especially like the suprise bonus of the lady holding up the baby in far right on the frame.
Regards,
Dave

edal (6804) 2008-06-28 7:28

Salam Mohammad!
Thank you very much for showing us the traditions with Noroz (am I correct about Iranian New year name?). Great detail that happy mother and child in the far end of the room!
Friendly regards,
Anton