Nowruz
Nowruz: New Day
Nowruz is a celebration of Spring, the exact moment of the Equinox and the inspiration for our Spring 2021 Hyla Scents Collection. The candle of the Spring Collection named for the Holiday is our personally crafted essential oil blend of Clary Sage and Lemongrass. Clary Sage is a favorite among the essential oil users, and is held in high esteem by those in the spiritual community. These groups say sage is great for meditation purposes and lift the spirit. Lemongrass, also known as Melissa, is known for boosting energy and promotes balance.
The Nowruz celebration is a descendant of the Nation of Persia and has celebrated over several countries that once shared their influence (or colonization) with over 90 million people celebrating every year. Some of the countries include Iran, Iraqi, Georgia, China, Armenia, and the United States, which recognized Nowruz as an international holiday in 2010. This decision was followed by Canada who made this step the year before. Since this celebration is recognized all over the world, there are many different ways to celebrate and even spell this holiday. One of the most recognized/ familiar spelling is Nowruz, which in Farsi means New Day. In many cultures, this is also the first day of the New Year and requires a lot of preparation.
The celebrations start with khoone takoonee (shaking of the house). This is like a Spring Cleaning, except far more intense. The celebrators clean out every room and inch of their homes. Some even removing rugs, mattresses, and clothing outside to be cleansed by the Sun. After the cleaning, it is time to set the Soferye Haft Seen which means “New Year’s Table” which is adorned with flowers and items that are called the seven “S”s: seeb (apples), senjed (dried oleaster berries), seer (garlic), samanu (wheat pudding) or sabzeh (wheat-grass), somaq (sumac) , and sheereenee (sweets). Apples represent health and beauty and garlic the cleansing that comes with the new year for the body and environment. Wheat represents justice and strength, somaq for patience, and serkeh for age and patience. It is common to have visitors come by and celebrate right at the Spring Equinox, whether it is 5:00 AM or 12:00 noon, therefore, sheereenee are always great to keep for your guest. The Other items include books with money, candles, and tokhme morgh (egg) to represent fertility and are decorated, ayne (mirror) for reflection of the past year. There is legend in some cultures that when the equinx hits and the light and dark are equal, the egg will rotate on the mirror placed on the Soferye Haft Seen.
Once the house is clean, the table is set, the egg changes direction with the New year, the 13 days of celebration begin. In many cultures, the first day of celebration is spent at the oldest member of the family’s house, where they host. This is then passed along by age in descending order until the 13 days are celebrated. Some cultures believe that 13 is an unlucky number, so they choose to gather outside in large community groups. On the 13th day, it customary to tie knots in the blades of the wheat-grass and make a wish. After the wishing is complete, you throw the sabzeh in a body of moving water in hopes that your wishes will come true.
Nowruz Mobarak—Happy New Year
Nowruz is a celebration of Spring, the exact moment of the Equinox and the inspiration for our Spring 2021 Hyla Scents Collection. The candle of the Spring Collection named for the Holiday is our personally crafted essential oil blend of Clary Sage and Lemongrass. Clary Sage is a favorite among the essential oil users, and is held in high esteem by those in the spiritual community. These groups say sage is great for meditation purposes and lift the spirit. Lemongrass, also known as Melissa, is known for boosting energy and promotes balance.
The Nowruz celebration is a descendant of the Nation of Persia and has celebrated over several countries that once shared their influence (or colonization) with over 90 million people celebrating every year. Some of the countries include Iran, Iraqi, Georgia, China, Armenia, and the United States, which recognized Nowruz as an international holiday in 2010. This decision was followed by Canada who made this step the year before. Since this celebration is recognized all over the world, there are many different ways to celebrate and even spell this holiday. One of the most recognized/ familiar spelling is Nowruz, which in Farsi means New Day. In many cultures, this is also the first day of the New Year and requires a lot of preparation.
The celebrations start with khoone takoonee (shaking of the house). This is like a Spring Cleaning, except far more intense. The celebrators clean out every room and inch of their homes. Some even removing rugs, mattresses, and clothing outside to be cleansed by the Sun. After the cleaning, it is time to set the Soferye Haft Seen which means “New Year’s Table” which is adorned with flowers and items that are called the seven “S”s: seeb (apples), senjed (dried oleaster berries), seer (garlic), samanu (wheat pudding) or sabzeh (wheat-grass), somaq (sumac) , and sheereenee (sweets). Apples represent health and beauty and garlic the cleansing that comes with the new year for the body and environment. Wheat represents justice and strength, somaq for patience, and serkeh for age and patience. It is common to have visitors come by and celebrate right at the Spring Equinox, whether it is 5:00 AM or 12:00 noon, therefore, sheereenee are always great to keep for your guest. The Other items include books with money, candles, and tokhme morgh (egg) to represent fertility and are decorated, ayne (mirror) for reflection of the past year. There is legend in some cultures that when the equinx hits and the light and dark are equal, the egg will rotate on the mirror placed on the Soferye Haft Seen.
Once the house is clean, the table is set, the egg changes direction with the New year, the 13 days of celebration begin. In many cultures, the first day of celebration is spent at the oldest member of the family’s house, where they host. This is then passed along by age in descending order until the 13 days are celebrated. Some cultures believe that 13 is an unlucky number, so they choose to gather outside in large community groups. On the 13th day, it customary to tie knots in the blades of the wheat-grass and make a wish. After the wishing is complete, you throw the sabzeh in a body of moving water in hopes that your wishes will come true.
Nowruz Mobarak—Happy New Year
