Brian H. Appleton

There is something so wonderfully low tech about going to a park on Sizda Bedar and pic nicking with your friends and family and promenading and running into friends and acquaintences and wishing them success and happiness in the new year. Today the lens heads were tossed in the lake and much to my delight, the mud hens feasted on them. A little old lady without black face was Haji Firuz and a flock of little children ran around her in circles. People took out backgammon sets and played including fathers and daughters. One man gave away bottles of water for free and another sang to the delight of his companions. There was no fee for participation or entertainment other than the $6.00 parking fee exacted by the Parks Department. I am confident that this tradition will never die wherever two or more Persians exist.... ;o)