It's been a hard winter for many people I know and it isn't over yet, but at least we can celebrate the first day of Spring. The Vernal Equinox is also the Persian New Year's Day, which is observed all over Iran and Central Asia, and anywhere Iranians have made a home. "NoRuz" means "New Day" in Persian. Long before the Islamic conquest, this was a Zoroastrian holiday, and many of the ancient customs survive to this day, especially the festive table on which symbolic foods and other items are arrayed. I did this NoRuz design for my local Starbucks some years ago. The white area (black in the original) had the Coffee of the Week written on it. The phoenix at left, the Winged Disc, and the columns from Persepolis are all historic symbols of the great Persian culture. Happy spring, and happy NoRuz, friends!
Chalk markers on black board, 2004.
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