The bright spots, burnt into my retinas from my foolish unprotected gawping at the full eclipse of the sun this morning, have only just about faded away.
The black disc of the moon was clearly visible through light cloud and although I was disappointed not to see mass hysteria and panic at the devouring of the sun by the ravenous celestial monster in the heavens it was quite a sight to behold nevertheless.
Next time around for the same phenomena I will be sure to have some heavy duty goggles which gives me 10 years to save up my loyalty points from Industrial Welding Supplies Inc.
It was a good precursor, however, for preparations to celebrate Persian New Year or Norooz (various other spellings are available) this evening under the cultural guidance of our Iranian friend Medhi.
We have enjoyed a total immersion into a different mindset through our friendship which has seen us enjoying the delicacy of sheep's head, cooking with saffron and many fragrant spices and herbs,discovering new tastes from huge parcels sent from Iran by Medhi's mother, eating a lot of crispy pan bottom cooked rice, drinking sophisticated blue flower tea and gallons of premium Persian tea laced with cardomom.
There will be five of us in Hull this evening joining the 300 million others around the world in a celebration of renewal and rebirth on what is the first day of Spring.
This is an ancient ceremony recognised by the United Nations as one of important cultural significance and first entering Persian historical records in the 2nd Century AD but even then already well established from 548 to 330 BC.
The marking of the Spring Equinox is rooted in the Zoroastrian tradition and even attributed to Zoroaster himself.
The exact moment or Tahvil, part of a 12 day festival, this year falls on March 20th in Tehran and in our hosts place in East Yorkshire, UK, later on in the evening.
In the run up to Norooz many religious traditions have come together and there are great gatherings and activities. One particular is the lighting of bonfires "Chahar Shan be suri", to signify the shedding of old troubles and ill fortune and participants leap over the flames to get rid of their woes and troubles. Everyone takes part with a risk of bodily scorching or singeing but it is a joyous thing that is done.
On the night of Nooroz there is the laying out of a ceremonial table display known as the cloth of seven dishes or "Sofreh-ye haft sinn".
Gathered together are possessions of Holy Book, flowers and fresh shoots, bowl of goldfish, mirror, candles, painted eggs and seven foods all beginning with the Persian letter "S". The table stays dressed and laden for thirteen days of the festival.
To celebrate we have attempted to seek out as many authentic Persian items as possible in our home area and have had to venture further afield for the more problematic.
The main foods are;
Sabzeh- lentil, barley or wheat sprouts to signify renewal.
Samanu- a sweet pudding made from wheatgerm for affluence.
Senjed-the dried fruit of the lotus tree to represent love.
Sir-garlic for medecine and health.
Sib or apple for health and beauty.
Somaq-berries to act as sunrise and
Serkeh, vinegar for age and patience.
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Much of this is ceremonial so traditionally a meal is served such as Sabzi Polo Mati comprising rice, herbs and fish.
At the end of the thirteen days there is "Sizdeh Bedar" meaning "getting rid of the thirteenth" and greenstuffs are thrown into rivers or lakes as a symbolic return to nature.
We, as hosts, will do our best to honour the sentiments and meanings of Norooz and by doing so learn yet more of the Persian heritage and way of life. Five of us will be attentive and thoughtful......I cannot say the same for the newly acquired Goldfish who seems a bit under-awed by the whole thing.
(Actually written for 2015, our first participation in Nooroz)
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