It’s Equinox Time

This year is flying, and already, we are at the March Equinox, when day and night are equal lengths. It is the traditional start of Spring for us in the Northern Hemisphere and Autumn for our upside-down friends in the Southern one!

The signs of new life make for a lovely display: leaves on the trees, spring flowers bringing some welcome colour, lambs in the fields, birds nesting, etc.

And it is also the first day of Nowruz, the Persian New Year, and what a lovely time of year to have that. It seems much more appropriate than chilly old January!

Seven traditional items are placed on the Haft-sin table during the festival of Nowruz:

• Sabze (wheat, barley, mung bean, or lentil sprouts grown in a dish) - the symbol of rebirth and growth

• Samanu (a sweet pudding made from wheat germ) - the symbol of power and strength

• Persian olive - the symbol of love

• Vinegar - the symbol of patience

• Apple - the symbol of beauty

• Garlic - the symbol of health and medicine

• Sumac - the symbol of sunrise

Other times placed on the Haft-sin table include:

• Hyacinths - the symbol of spring’s arrival

• A mirror - the symbol of self-reflection

• A clock - the symbol of time

• Coins - the symbol of wealth and prosperity

• Painted eggs - the symbol of fertility

• A candle - the symbol of enlightenment

• A goldfish - the symbol of progress

• A book (often a holy book or one of poetry or verse) - the symbol of wisdom

Hopefully, Spring has finally sprung, and we can leave this soggy old Winter behind!
So today, let’s celebrate all things to do with the day in any way you wish: images, gifs, music, videos, etc.