This year, Jamshedi Navroz graces us on Tuesday, 20 March, 2018. The associated colour this year is ‘grey’ and the animal is ‘dog’. In most homes, especially Irani household, a Haftseen table will be set, decorated with seven items since seven is considered a lucky number, and each of these seven items begins with the letter sin (s) in Persian and is symbolic of spring and renewal. These are Seeb (apple), representing beauty; Seer (garlic), representing good health; Serkeh (vinegar), representing patience; Sonbol (hyacinth), representing spring; Samanu (sweet pudding), representing fertility; Sabzeh (sprouts), representing rebirth; and Sekeh (coins), representing prosperity.

There are also some items in HaftSeen which make it to the table though they do not start with ‘s’ – as symbol or a decoration. These include a Mirror – symbol for Lighting; Goldfish the symbol for Pisces, relevant in the traditional Persian calendar where goldfishes indicate that the new year starts from this month. Also construed as a symbol for Victory, Exhilaration, Blessing, etc.; the Avesta or holy books; candles and incense sticks and eggs which are usually decorated