La Pietra Parent shares traditions to celebrate Iranian New Year
March 18th, 2022
Current parent Faryal Michaud sets up a Haft Sinn Table to celebrate Nowruz, the Iranian New Year.
Every year, La Pietra students in 8th Grade English read the graphic novel Persepolis, a story about a young girl growing up in Iran during the Iranian Revolution. Students are then invited to make a connection between something they are interested in in their daily lives and something that they learned about Iran over the course of reading the book.
This year, parent Faryal Michaud graciously set up a Haft Sinn Table in the Fountain Courtyard to celebrate Nowruz, the Iranian New Year, which begins on the first day of spring. This year, that date falls on Sunday, March 20. The ritual goes back at least 3,000 years.
"Many students have done projects on Nowruz, but this is the first time we have had the opportunity to have a Haft Sinn table," said Dr. Alia Pan, La Pietra's 8th Grade English teacher. "We are very excited to celebrate the many cultures that we are happy to have in our La Pietra community. Mahalo to the Michaud family for their generosity!"
On the table, you'll find items that represent desired qualities in the upcoming year. Common items used to decorate the table include goldfish in a bowl to represent life, painted eggs for fertility, coins for wealth, a variety of fruits and sweets, and a mirror and candles to reflect on the past year.
So Happy Nowruz to our La Pietra community, and enjoy the first day of spring!
