Haft-Sin

Haft-Seen table

Iranian Haft-Seen table in Tehran.

Haft-Sin (Persian: هفت‌سین‎) or the seven 'S's is a traditional table setting of Nowruz, the traditional Iranian spring celebration. Today the haft seen table includes seven specific items, all starting with the letter sin (س) in the Persian alphabet. Haft-Sin was originally called Haftchin (Haftĉin) derived from the words Chin (چین) and Haft (هفت) meaning "to place" seven (items). The table is set by placing the following items which symbolize Zoroastrian yazatas or divinities such as ātar and asmān.

The original "Haft Chin" items are:

1. Mirror - symbolizing Sky
2. Apple - symbolizing Earth
3. Candles - symbolizing Fire
4. Golab - rose water symbolizing Water
5. Sabzeh - wheat, or barley sprouts symbolizing Plants
6. Goldfish - symbolizing Animals
7. Painted Eggs - symbolizing Humans and Fertility

The term and therefore the concept was changed due to the fact that the digraph Ch (چ) in the word Chin was replaced with the letter S (س) because the Arabian Caliphs did not have the sound Ch in their language, leading to the evolution of the word Haft Sin, which no longer symbolizes the 7 original divinities.

The Haft Seen items are:

1. Sabzeh - wheat, barley, mung bean or lentil sprouts growing in a dish - symbolising rebirth
2. Samanu - sweet pudding made from wheat germ - symbolising affluence
3. Senjed - dried oleaster fruit - symbolising love
4. Sir - garlic - symbolising medicine
5. Sib - apples - symbolising beauty and health
6. Somāq - sumac fruit - symbolising (the color of) sunrise
7. Serkeh - vinegar - symbolising old-age and patience

A slightly less traditional Haft Seen may also include:

• Sonbol - the fragrant hyacinth flower - symbolising the coming of spring
• Sekkeh - coins - symbolising prosperity
• Iranian pastries such as Baqlava ,
• Tut - white berries, Nān-Noxodchi )
• Ājil - dried nuts, berries and raisins
• lit candles symbolising enlightenment and happiness
• a mirror symbolising Truth, the reflection of the Real World
• sekanjabin - a sweet mint syrup
• decorated eggs, sometimes one for each member of the family symbolising fertility
• a bowl with goldfish symbolising life, and the constellation of Pisces which the Sun is leaving^{[citation needed]}
• water with a bitter orange in it symbolising Earth "floating" in space
• rose water, used to cleanse in Islam before prayer and is also heavily prevalent in Iranian cuisine
• the flag of Iran
• A poetry book, such as the Shahnameh or the Divan of Hafiz, or a religious text such as the holy Quran or Avesta

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  Haftseen Table

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  Haftseen Table

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  Haftseen Table

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  Haftseen Table

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  Haftseen Table

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  Haftseen Table in Sharif university of Iran

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  Haftseen in the White House

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  Haftseen Table, Fazaye-no, Tehran

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  Haftseen Table, Fazaye-no, Tehran

External links

• Iranian Traditional Tables including Haft-Sin
• persian haft-sin, photo and history
• شمارش معکوس تا تحويل سال 1391 شمسی Nowruz Countdown to March 20, 2012 (Persian)
• MTO Haftsin 2010