In the early hours of Saturday, I set our Nowruz spread. [photo essay]
I grew up in a household of ceremonies and rituals. Everything was a BIG deal to my parents, worthy of time, attention, and love. Of all the ceremonies celebrated in my childhood, however, nothing was as big as Nowruz. Weeks of preparations and cleaning chores and shopping delivered my family into the moments the year changed, the biggest deal of the year. I left my parents’ home when I was 18. Whatever I learned there has obviously made a serious impact on me! I have celebrated Nowruz at my home and away, in a small student studio or in the middle of life-changing crises, in foreign lands and in Iran. However and wherever I have celebrated the beginning of the New Day, it has been with thought, love, and hope. It remains the biggest deal of the year to me and to my children now, for it is the one occasion which is about hope and optimism.
My father taught us to pray during the moments the year changed. The prayer was simple and in Farsi, wishing for peace, happiness, prosperity, and love–not just for ourselves, but for others, for the world. I have no memory more comforting and joyful than a group prayer of my huge family, gathered around the Nowruz spread, wishing good things for the world. I remain sold on the idea.
As I was setting my Haft Seen again, I prayed. I prayed for joy for the whole world. I prayed for peace for all. I prayed for patience for the parents of the people who lost their lives for freedom this past year. I prayed for hope to remain alive and well in the hearts of all those abused, tortured, and imprisoned, and for all who witnessed this with anxious hearts. I prayed for all Iranians to be safe, to be happy, and to be free. I prayed for freedom for Iran.
Happy New Year to everyone. Let this be the year when there will be no tears. Let this be the year for laughter, for peace, for joy, for beshkan, and for lives full of hope. [photo
essay]
