Ring In Spring: A Haft-Sin Table for Persian New Year

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Every year at the start of spring, I bring out all of my favorite tableware to celebrate the Persian New Year. This holiday, called Nowruz, dates back over 3,000 years to ancient Persia and originates from Zoroastrianism, one of the world’s oldest religions, rooted in a reverence for nature and its elements. Nowruz begins on the day of the vernal equinox, the first day of spring, with celebrations continuing for 13 days. On the 13th day, to ward off bad luck from the number 13, the holiday ends with a big outdoor picnic.

What I love most about Nowruz is that it connects us to an ancient time and place that would otherwise feel a bit abstract. We’re far removed from how people lived thousands of years ago, but celebrating Nowruz is a tangible link to the past. It’s also a very visual and aesthetic holiday that offers a lot of opportunity for creativity and putting your own artful spin on the tradition.

We create a tablescape called the “haft-sin,” which means the “seven S’s” in Persian, named for the seven items starting with the letter “S” that go on the table. Each item carries a symbolic meaning that we hope to call in for the new year.

Garlic (“seer”) — health, protection from evil
Apple (“seeb”) — beauty, vitality
Sumac (“somagh”) — the victory of light over darkness
Vinegar (“serkeh”) — wisdom, patience
Sprouts (“sabzeh”) — rebirth, renewal
Wheat germ pudding (“samanu”) — abundance, prosperity
Dried oleaster (“senjed”) — love, affection

In addition to the seven S’s, there are some optional items—call them extra credit for bringing in more good things for the year—that can be added to the spread. I always have candles, which symbolize enlightenment; a mirror to symbolize reflection and self-awareness; and my personal favorite: an orange floating in water, which represents the earth floating in space and symbolizes harmony.

Here’s a look at how I designed my haft-sin this year.

Photography by Nicole Najafi.

i would describe my haft sin aesthetic as “modernist marie antoinette.” i l 17 — Above: I would describe my haft-sin aesthetic as “modernist Marie Antoinette.” I love the old-world decadence of vintage silver and crystal but with some modernist restraint: one apple instead of a bowl of apples, a limited color palette, and an overall less-is-more approach.

The tablecloth is ghalamkar, an ancient Persian textile art from Isfahan, where my family is from. Artisans hand-carve designs into wooden blocks and then stamp them onto the fabric. I only take it out for special occasions, as my cats love to play with the tassels.

the silver cigarette box belonged to my grandfather in the \1940s. i use it to 18 — Above: The silver cigarette box belonged to my grandfather in the 1940s. I use it to store coins (“sekkeh” in Persian), which is one of the extra “S” items outside of the traditional seven and symbolizes prosperity. The white footed bowls are from Japanese ceramics store Nalata Nalata, and the stainless steel pedestals are dessert stems from Gohar World. The rosebuds are from Kashan, in Iran, where rosewater is made. Rosewater actually originated in ancient Persia, and many of the rose fields there are centuries old. Rosebuds are not a typical haft-sin item, but I love the smell and I’m proud of our rosewater heritage.

to hold the vinegar, i use a vintage midcentury stained glass wine decanter, wh 19 — Above: To hold the vinegar, I use a vintage midcentury stained-glass wine decanter, which is a much larger vessel than what is typically used, but I like to have some variation in proportions and scale. Plus, I could always use a little more patience, so the extra vinegar is welcome.

instead of an orange floating in water (which symbolizes the harmony of the wor 20 — Above: Instead of an orange floating in water (which symbolizes the harmony of the world in space), I opted for a clementine so it would fit in my crystal sorbet glass. The vintage three-tier dessert tray holds various Persian sweets: pistachio brittle, powdered sugar nougat, and cardamom and rosewater cookies.

the sprouts are a quintessential haft sin item, as they symbolize the rebirth a 21 — Above: The sprouts are a quintessential haft-sin item, as they symbolize the rebirth and renewal of spring. On the 13th day, we tie blades of the sprouts into a knot while making a wish, then throw all of it into a body of running water to return it to the earth.

Happy Nowruz!

And for more holiday tables, head to Tablescapes.

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