The Recurring Tale of Avestan Divinities

New Year’s Eve in Iran. They call it Nowruz. It starts with the beginning of spring. It dates further back. It goes way way back. And so does the sweetest days I remember from this special Northward equinox. For those of you who have not spent time with them, people are worn out in the head, in debt, in failed romance, angry up to the neck with a country plagued by politics. But when it comes to celebrating, they are no different from the rest of the world. It’s amazing to see how a population almost utterly mesmerized by religion and superstition and constantly brainwashed by extremists to grief over the death of some strangers fifteen centuries ago, are always embracing beating that path and choose joy, celebration, and positivism over all that. Perhaps these few days of the feast, vacationing, and leisure are every Iranian’s favorite time of the year.

With Nowruz, comes a traditional table setting as well. They call that Haft Sīn and there are 7 key items you should put on that table:

1. Mirror (a symbol for sky);
2. Apple (symbol for earth);
3. Candles (symbol for fire);
4. Rosewater (symbol for water);
5. Barley sprouts (a symbol for plants);
6. Goldfish (symbol for animals);
7. Painted eggs (symbols for humans…