The Smell of Nowruz

             I no longer feel the Nowruz, Persian new year, vibes. For me, the first day of spring is so special because it gives me a sense of freshness. In Iran, New Year is celebrated on the first day of spring. Just as spring is a time to celebrate new life, as the trees grow green again. However, from three years ago until now, this feeling has faded for me. Chicago is usually much colder than Tehran in March, and the trees have not bloomed yet. Maybe that is why I do not feel like spring is coming as I felt it before. I must say that the beginning of the spring, in Chicago, is always more like fall than spring and it is still cold and colorless everywhere.

            The atmosphere of Nowruz was always unique In Tehran and starting from a month before Persian new year's day. In fact, it felt like Christmas time in Chicago. I can always imagine the smell of samanu, that is a Persian pudding and traditionally made from germinated wheat and water, which also smells good. In addition, who used to go for a walk down the Valiasr street Which is the longest street in Tehran. My cousins and I used to enjoy all the trees full of blooms around and the colorful flowers in front of flower shops in the Valiasr street and large pounds of small redfish, which is symbols of luck for Persian. Now my cousins are no longer around me to go for a walk like I used to go with them. I have tried to bring these vibes to my home by inviting friends to my house to celebrate the New Year together, by doing all the traditional Nowruz customs. Even though it is not the same feeling, at least it makes me feel closer to home.

In addition, in Iran, visiting family elders on the first day of Nowruz is one of the most important Nowruz rituals. The best pleasure of new year’s day for me is when all the family get together and buy presents for each other. I want to admit that none of those gifts are like receiving my special gift from my grandparents. I used to go to my grandparent’s house right after the New Year started to say happy new year and to receive my usual gift from them. My grandfather used to give me, new money that he had always put money in the middle of his Hafez book. Hafez is one of the greatest Iranian poets and my grandfather used to read a poem from Hafez book anytime we gathered. In Persian culture, receiving new money in New Year’s Day is a symbol of blessing for the coming year. when I was a teenager, New year’s days gathering was boring for me, but now I know how much I miss those simple things, especially now because I do not have my grandfather anymore, or my family member in Chicago to visit.

            Finally, I want to say, In Persian culture on the first day of the year, families get together and have traditional food together. In most parts of Iran, typically, people have smoked Persian herb rice and whitefish and side of koko sabzi as New year’s lunch. It is common that before starting to eat, we were prayed together for the health, wealth, and happiness of upcoming days. Since coming to Chicago, every year I have tried to cook the Persian smoked rice in the same way that my mother taught me, but every time it tastes different. I believe because I never can find the rice as same as the Persian one in Chicago. I think another reason could be the dried herbs that I use instead of the fresh herbs that we used to cook with it in Iran. Sometimes I feel the problem is not the taste of the food. Maybe the problem is that I cannot gather my whole family in Chicago and have lunch together.

 I must say that because of the distance from my family, the difference in climate, and the culture of the Iran and United States, I cannot celebrate Nowruz like I used to. In the U.S, the first day of spring is an ordinary day, same as other days, and people work on that day, and it is a workday for me as well. I can say that after moving to Chicago, somehow, the Christmas holiday has taken the place of Nowruz for me. Even if the feeling is still different to me, I would say it is what it is. I promised myself that every few years, I would try to go to Iran during Nowruz, and I would celebrate the new year with my family also friends. Then I will experience those feelings and enjoy experiencing the spring again.