Haft-sin
The Nowruz table with seven items beginning with the Persian letter sin.
Also: haft seen, haftsin
Haft-sin, the seven S's, is the table set at Nowruz, the Persian new year at the spring equinox, in Iran, Afghanistan, Central Asia and among Persian communities worldwide. It holds seven items whose names begin with the letter sin: sabzeh, sprouted wheat for rebirth; samanu, sweet pudding for power; senjed, dried fruit for love; sir, garlic for health; sib, apple for beauty; somaq, sumac for the colour of dawn; and serkeh, vinegar for age and patience. A mirror, candles, coloured eggs, a goldfish and a holy book are often added. The family gathers round the table at the moment of the new year.
Region: Central Asia and the Caucasus