Holidays
By: Daniel G.
Persian New Year: NowRuz- the Iranian New Year Celebration begins on the first day of spring, which is supposed to coincide with the rebirth of nature. The ceremonies of Nowruz symbolize the concepts of the End and the Rebirth, or Good and Evil. A few weeks before Nowruzm Iranians clean and rearrange their homes, make new clothes, bake pastries, and germinate seeds as a sign of renewal.
http://www.farsinet.com/noruz/images/haftseen_farsinet_2570.jpg
Persian Wedding Customs: The two stages to a Persian wedding are the “Aghd”, and the “Jashn-e Aroosi”, usually both taking place in the same day. The “Aghd” is the legal process of getting married, where the bride, bridegroom and both their guardians sign a marriage contract. The“Jashn-e Aroosi” is the wedding reception which has the feasts and the celebrations, traditionally lasting from 3-7 days. The ceremony takes place in a specially decorated room with flowers and an elaborately decorated spread on the floor. The spread is set on the floor facing east, so when the bride and bridegroom are seated at the head of the spread, they will be facing the direction of sunrise, or “The Light”. More info on http://www.farsinet.com/persian_wedding/
http://www.iranchamber.com/culture/articles/images/aghd_sofreh.jpg