Norooz Part 3: Persian New Year Sizdah Bedar

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In Episode #23, co-hosts Bita and Beata wrap up the 3 part series on Norooz, the Persian New Year.  Norooz can also be spelled Nowruz, Nowrooz, Noruz. They share stories of the festival that takes place on the 13th day, Sizdah Bedar, literally translated as ‘the 13th day out the door’. This year Sizdah Bedar falls on Friday, April 2nd and the new year in the solar calendar will be 1400.</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Sizdah Bedar - also knowns as “Nature Day”</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Traditionally it is considered bad luck to stay inside on the 13th day after the start of the Persian new year - 13 days after the spring equinox and the turning of the seasons from winter to spring.  This ‘nature day’ is called Sizdah Bedar.</span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Customs around Sizdah Bedar/Nature day:</span></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Getting outdoors for picnics, fun, and games</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Getting fresh air</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Going for walks</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Discarding the sabzeh grass from the haftseen sofreh (7 things that start with the letter “seen” and have positive symbolic meanings) by tying a knot in the grass, making a wish and placing it into fresh running water</span></li> </ul> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Picnic foods often enjoyed on Sizdah bedar</span></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Big pots of food and rice</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Salad Olivier/ Persian Potato salad</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Kababs and burgers</span></li>