The Rancho Bernardo Library held a celebration of Nowruz, which marks the first day of the Iranian calendar, on March 12 with craft activities, a holiday display and refreshments.
Nowruz typically coincides with the spring equinox on March 21. The themes of good, evil, end and rebirth are associated with the holiday, according to library staff.
One of the Nowruz traditions is to create a Haft Seen Table, with seven items representing the earth’s abundance and life. All the items begin with the letter S.: They are Sabze (wheat, barley or lentil sprouts) for rebirth, Samanu (sweet pudding) for affluence, Senjed (dried fruit of oleaster tree) for love, Seer (garlic) for health, Sib (apple) for beauty, Somaq (sumac) for joy and Serkeh (vinegar) for age and patience.
Librarian Minoo Hadidi, who created the table, said she also included other symbolic items such as hyacinth flowers, coins for wealth, a mirror for cleanness, a goldfish for Pisces (which the sun is leaving), colored eggs for fertility, candles and a holy or poetry book.
The two kid-friendly craft activities were decorating bird houses and making flower artwork with tissue paper.
