Iranian New Year reinforces identity, culture of country

By Terri Aquino
Daily Bruin Contributor

As the seasons slowly change, the first day of spring can go
unnoticed, but for many Iranians, the day garners prominence as the
first day of their calendar year and a reinforcement of their
identity.

The Iranian New Year, which means Norouz or “new
day” in the Iranian language Farsi, is celebrated with many
traditions ranging from dancing around a bonfire to visiting family
.

Symbolically, spring represents growth, renewal and life, said
third- year comparative literature student Arash Davari.

“It’s a different way of looking at the year.
It’s a rejuvenation and a moving forward with a conscious,
critical view of the past,” Davari said.

To mark the end of this year and the beginning of the new one,
Iranians will dance around a large bonfire and jump over smaller
fires on the last Tuesday of the year, in a tradition called Chahar
Shanbeh Soori, said Iranian Student Group officer Ahou Abedi.

“When jumping over the fire, all negative parts of the
past year transfer from my body to the fire and all the purity from
the fire is transferred to me,” Abedi continued.

On the same night, children in Iran go door to door and receive
candy, similar to Halloween, Abedi said.

Children also look forward to visits from a man named Hadji who
tells of the upcoming spring.

“Hadji is a traditional figure. He’s a man that
represents fire, wears all red, and is traditionally black faced
from the coal of the fire,” Davari said.

In addition, other symbols pertaining to faith, beliefs and hope
are shown in the home in a display called the haftseen table.

Each of the seven items on the haftseen table, including a
goldfish, garlic, a mirror, wheat, an apple and books in Farsi,
begins with the Farsi letter “Sin” and represents ideas
such as learning, health, light, good fortune and growth.

Families usually gather around the haftseen table during Norouz,
said first-year math student Mahsa Hematabadi.

Here they exchange presents and money and eat pastries so the
new year starts off sweet, said Hematabadi.

But beyond the traditions for the new year, Norouz signifies an
immense sense of pride in Iranian culture and identity that dates
back thousands of years, Davari said, adding that each culture is
distinct in America.

“We’re trying to move past multiculturalism. America
is not a melting pot. I don’t want to just tolerate you, I
want to critically understand you,” Davari said. “I
don’t identify myself as an Iranian American, but an Iranian
living in America.”

At a Norouz celebration in the Ackerman Grand Ballroom earlier
this month, Davari and Iranian Student Group member Sohrab Sohrabi
performed a Persian rap titled “Ali from the Valley” in
front of 800 people.

Ali represented a second-generation Iranian American coming to
terms with his identity while living in the United States, Davari
said.

However, not all Iranian students agreed with Davari and
Sohrabi’s views about Iranians living in America .

“I don’t relate so much to that and I don’t
feel I lost myself. It’s important for people to share their
culture,” said first-year undeclared student Salomeh
Tehrani.

“We should be distinct and we should be different.
That’s the point of America.”

Although there are differing views toward Iranian personal
identities in the United States, Norouz promotes unity among the
Iranian community, Abedi said.

But this year, some UCLA students may need to postpone their
Norouz celebrations because the holiday falls in the middle of
finals week.

“Norouz is always during finals week. I will be taking a
test. I’ve never been able to celebrate Norouz on the day all
my four years here,” said fourth-year electrical engineering
student Bobak Khamfi.

Although students may need to hold off on the first few days of
the celebrations, because Norouz lasts 13 days, they may still be
able to partake in a large picnic on the last day, Davari said.