spring has sprung

March 22nd, 2011

Ah, spring—the sun is shining, the birds are chirping, and over in India, those celebrating Holi are throwing colored powder and water at each other.  Holi, the Hindu Festival of Colors, was celebrated this year on March 20^th. The annual festival celebrates the arrival of spring, commemorates various events in Hindu mythology, and is generally a time for disregarding social norms and indulging in merriment. A common saying is “Don’t mind, it’s Holi!” (Hindi = Bura na mano, Holi hai.)

Also on March 20^th was the Iranian holiday Nowruz, or Persian New Year. Iranians welcome the new year by wearing new clothes and setting the Haft Seen, a table containing seven items that start with the letter ‘S’: sabzeh (freshly grown greens), samanou (a traditional pudding), senjed (jujube), seeb (apple), seer (garlic), somagh (sumac) and serkeh (vinegar). Nowruz has been celebrated for over 3,000 years on the day of the astronomical vernal equinox, the first day of spring for those North of the equator.

Wishing you all a happy Holi, Nowruz, and spring from us here at Alice Marshall!

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