“Haft Sin” is a collection of seven symbolic things whose name begins with the letter “Sin” and is traditionally spread on Nowruz, the Iranian New Year. Haft Sin Table, is one of the most famous Nowruz traditions. And Iranians place their Haft Sin on the floor, table or tablecloth; and usually family members sit next to it during the turn of the year.

This tablecloth is about gathering and choosing seven things from the following: apples, elm, sumac, garlic, vinegar, greens (wheat seeds that we plant on a plate to become green for Nowruz), coins, samanoo and lavender. As is customary, Iranians also place other things to complement the spiritual and symbolic meanings of the breasts; including mirrors, books, candlesticks, colored eggs, goldfish, flowers, sweets and etc. These other elements completely depend on the custom, tradition and belief of different people (Iranians are from different tribes).

Haft Sin Table usually stays in the houses until the end of Nowruz. Then some people leave the green in the water on the 13th day of Nowruz, when the Nowruz celebration officially comes to it’s end. Historically, anything on this table can be a symbol of New Year wishes; wishes such as health, fertility, patience, blessings, victory, wisdom and more. Dropping special tablecloths for Nowruz has been celebrated in the past in parts of Iran, and today in Iran and some surrounding countries. The Haft Sin table is not only for Nowruz and some people prepare this or a similar table to it for a wedding celebration or Shab-e Cheleh (Yalda night) too.

About Nowruz

The term Nowruz was first written in the history of the Iranians in the second century AD; but it was also an important day during the Achaemenid period. The day when the kings of different nations under the auspices of the Persian Empire came there and presented gifts to the Emperor of Iran. Nowruz and it’s related traditions still have a special importance to Iranians. We consider Nowruz and the renewal of nature as the beginning of a new year; and we believe that we can reborn in line with nature and have a new outlook on life in the new year.

In our tradition, every year, about a month before, the house cleaning starts! We clean all parts of our house because we believe that the house should be clean and new for the new year. Before the New Year, we get ready to set the Haft Sin table. And at the time of New Year’s delivery, we sit next to the Haft Sin table; and all the members of the family sit around it and eagerly wait for the exact time of announcing the vernal equinox. The head of the family recites the Nowruz prayer and after the delivery of the year, all the members of the family kiss each other and congratulate Nowruz. The elders give presents called “Eidy”, which is mostly some amount of money, to the younger ones; and then we go to visit relatives and acquaintances.

In Iran, this holiday will last up to thirteen days; and on the thirteenth day, we all go to the heart of nature and throw the greens in running water to avoid misfortune. You may also find these tradition in many countries of West Asia in different forms.

What is the history of Haft Sin table?

Actually, the history of this custom is obscure. Some scholars point out that in the past, to honor earthly blessings, they decorated a table with seven symbols for Nowruz or the celebration of Mehregan, which could begin with a variety of professions; In fact, it was not necessary to start them with the letter “s” (sin in Persian). Abu Rihan al-Biruni mentions in one of his books that seven different types of grain were planted for Nowruz among the Iranians. Biruni says in this regard:

“On this day, every tree that was dried became green and people said called it “a new day” (translates as: Now ruz); and every person planted barley in a barrel by blessing this day.”

Then, this tradition of setting Haft Sin table, remained in Iran that the day Nowruz sows seven classes of grains in seven cylinders next to the house. But this is not all! Some say that during the Achaemenid period and before the advent of Islam, people used to put seven porcelain dishes on the table on Nowruz, which they called Haft Chin or Haft Chidaneh. Some say that during the Sassanid era, they added boxwood (Shemshad in Persian)to this table as a sign of greenery and prosperity; and Haft Chin changed to Haft Shin, which included: wine, sugar, syrup, honey, sweets, milk and rice milk.

About Haft Shin:

They considered wine as a symbol of freshness, sugar as a symbol of sweetness, milk as a symbol of nutritious food, juice as a symbol of strength, nectar or honey as a symbol of the result of group work, sweets as a symbol of happiness and rice milk as a symbol of taste and health.

On the other hand, some believed that after the fall of the Sassanid Empire and the rise of Islam in Iran, Iranians preserved their old traditions and customs; so they replaced wine with vinegar, which is also made from grapes. “Ch” does not exist in Arabic alphabets, so it changed to the current Haft Sin. Proponents of Haft Shin refer only to verses attributed to Rudaki in which he mentions Haft Shin. Opponents of the Haft Shin idea, however, say linguists and archaeologists have no basis for substantiating this claim. Because candle, nectar and wine are relatively new words that were called Sepandar, Angbin and Badeh in ancient Persian, respectively. None of the seven elements of Shin in these verses actually began with the letter “Shin.” Therefore, they can not prove the existence of seven shins! So the real background of Haft Sin is really one of those Iranian myths!

Why the number, “Seven”?

In the ancient language, they called the number seven “Amordad”, which means life and immortality; so the ancient Iranians chose seven words as their symbol and chose Nowruz. Seven was sacred to the ancient Iranians; and they used the number seven for positive concepts and good luck. For example, seven colors of the rainbow, seven khans of Rostam in Shahnameh (great Iranian mythology), seven heavens, seven climates, seven days a week, seven angels, seven cities Love in mysticism, seven bodies and etc.

The number seven is also important in the Holy Qur’an; and you can see it in some verses and chapters of this book. For example, Hajj has seven stages and the first reciters were seven.

What is the meaning of Haft sin symbols?

Although Haft sin has become more complete over time, it has retained it’s symbolism of nature. Traditionally, families try to make a beautiful Haft sin table as much as they can; because this table not only has traditional and spiritual values ​​for them, but also reflects their tastes! In fact, more than seven symbolic elements beginning with the letter “Sin” are listed for the Haft sin table. But the most important ones are:

• Green (Sabzeh): Reminiscent of green fields and a symbol of prosperity and happiness.
• Samanoo: A nutritious food made from fresh wheat germ. Samanoo is a symbol of growth and germination.
• Elm (Senjed): Elm is the fruit of the sorb tree that have a good shade and many rest under it’s shade in summer. And due to this fact it is a symbol of shelter and security when you need peace of mind.
• Garlic (Sir): Garlic lowers blood pressure and is soothing. Garlic is a symbol of peace and health.
• Apple (Sib): is a symbol of fruits in the world, both real and allegorical. Apple is a symbol of health and beauty.
• Sumac: Because sumac gives the kebab a mild and pleasant taste, it is a symbol of taste!
• Vinegar (Serkeh): Although sour, it is a good preservative and is used to preserve and flavor foods. Vinegar is a symbol of the spices of life.
• Lavender (Sonbol): Lavender is a symbol of spring.
• Coin (Sekkeh): Coins symbolize wealth and increase wealth in the new year. Iranians also use Haft Sin table coins to give Eidy too!

About other symbols of Haft sin that don’t start with “Sin”:

Of course, there are some basic symbols that do not start with Sin, but you can see people put them on their Haft Sin table. Like the Quran, candles, mirrors, fish and painted eggs.

• Qur’an: It is a sign of trusting and appealing to God Almighty; and aldo, asking for the best and help from God at the beginning of the year.
• Candles: Candles are a symbol of warmth, light and energy to lead us to a future that gives light, warmth and energy to the lives of others.
• Mirror: The mirror is a reflection of the past and represents the present. So, we can plan for the future by reflecting on the past.
• Gold fishes: Fish is a sign of a happy, active and lively life.
• Painted eggs: The colored eggs are a sign of creativity and fertility. Because it is a tradition for Iranians to paint the eggs of Haft Sin table by themselves.

In fact, the Haft Sin table is a symbol of light, warmth, life, love, happiness, childbirth, nature and prosperity; and means thanksgiving for all the good and abundant blessings that we have at our disposal.

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