By Mahshid Hager

My husband and I walk into the Balboa International Market on this busy Sunday afternoon. Nowruz (Persian New Year) is tomorrow and the store is busting with customers, trying to get their hands on last minute ingredients for their Nowruz feast or their Haft Sin Table.

I love this time of year. the weather is warming up, the trees are blossoming and the smell of Spring is in the air. People are cheerful and the hustle and bustle at the store has an air of excitement to it. A new Year is around the corner and it is time for celebration.

As I walk the busy isles of the store, I look around at all the smiling faces, and I’m suddenly filled with visions of New Years’ past and memories of my childhood…..

For me Nowruz brings back fond memories of my childhood in Iran and my grandparents’ house. I remember seemingly endless days of Spring Cleaning, cooking and gathering with family and friends. I remember eating sweets until I felt sick to my stomach and the smell of brand new bills that I received as eidis (money given to  children as a gift for Nowruz). It seemed like the whole country was on vacation for two weeks. My grandmother, the matriarch of the family, would expect guests on a daily basis during the two-week Holiday. This of course meant that her kitchen didn’t shut down until the late hours of the night.

I remember going to the market with her or having groceries delivered to her house. I remember heaps of herbs on news papers on the ground, my grandmother and her chopping block next to them, chopping for hours, the smell of fresh herbs, turmeric, saffron and Basmati rice filling the whole house. She was an amazing cook and could feed an army with just a few hours notice. I know that her love of cooking is in my bones and I often try to channel her creativity when I find myself in my own kitchen….

And so today, as I walk the busy isles of this market I am achingly aware how all of us Persians in this town, and everywhere else outside of Iran, are trying to recreate memories and traditions of past generations. We maybe far away from home, but we try to hold on to what we can.  We celebrate the New Year once more knowing full well that most of us have to show up to work tomorrow and our kids have to go to school. There will not be a two-week holiday following this Nowruz.

Getting into the spirit isn’t always easy. This year for instance the equinox on the west coast of the United States will be sometime shortly after 3:00 am on a Monday morning. While the rest of San Diego is fast asleep, Iranians all around town will get their children out of bed and wish them Happy New Year quietly. They will call relatives all around the world and greet them with well wishes.

As I complete my shopping list, I breathe in the excitement, I relish in the beauty of fresh fruit and produce, and I take in the sweet scent of the delicious desserts. I set an intention to ring in the New Year with joy. I will put up my modest Haft Sin Table and invite my family to gather around it. I will call my grandmother’s spirit for help and cook a tasty meal and I will invite some friends over to share it with. I might be far from home and the days of leisurely celebrations of Spring’s arrival may be long gone, but I can still celebrate this Equinox with my loved ones. I am lucky to live in Southern California. San Diego is home to thousands of Iranians. Over the next two weeks there will be numerous of Nowruz events to participate in. I will join my community with my family and celebrate the arrival of Spring.

Eid-e Shoma Mobarak! ( Happy New Year)

I would love to hear from you!

What holidays to you celebrate that are unique to your culture or country of origin?

Do you find it difficult to keep up the traditions?

Do you have any favorite recipes that go along with your celebrations?

Please do share! 🙂