Celebrations > Norooz > SPRINGTREE BY MARYAM SAGHEB
Tradition in an Untraditional Way
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Growing up as a young child in the States, my family celebrated Norooz in the traditional sense; similar to the celebrations in Iran. I was 10 when we left Iran, and although I recall Norooz in Tehran my memories of the hustle and bustle, and the excitement that surrounded the Norooz celebrations are vague.
Growing up in the States, my only memories of Norooz are that of taking a school day off, setting a traditional haft-seen table, having Sabzi Polo Mahi and Kookoo Sabzi on new year day, and visiting close by family and friends.
Today, I am married and have two very young children. We celebrate Norooz at our house but I feel the struggle to keep my children engaged and interested in the Norooz celebrations. So do many of my friends with young children.
I understand these kids. Clearly, baking Christmas cookies, building a ginger bread house, singing carols,
decorating a Christmas tree, and putting up lights is far more exciting and fun to a child than placing seven items flat on a table in a corner or hallway of the house.
What draws children to Christmas is not just the presents because children also receive gifts at Norooz. Rather, it is because (i) there are activities that allow children to get involved in preparing for the festivities, and (ii) the Christmas tree is ornate.
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So, I decided to revise the Norooz celebrations and in particular the Haft-seen setting in order to revitalize my children's interest in this beautiful and meaningful festival.
Since Norooz is a celebration of life marking the beginning of Spring, a time when trees and flowers come into bloom as all of nature awakens, what more appropriate than to have a “SpringTree” upon which to place the Haft-Seen objects in an ornamental, decorative manner.
The SpringTree is on display from March 17, 2007 through March 31, 2007 at the BeyondPersia event at Gallery One, located at 1 Embarcadero Center, San Francisco, CA. To view images of the Spring Tree, please visit: www.springtree.info
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