With delight, I watch the goldfish swimming around in the bowl, quietly hoping that I did not over feed them earlier that day. My cousin has a big scowl around her face. She loves Norooz, but hates it when we all have to gather around the haftseen table for the traditional family photograph. She reluctantly gets in the picture with us, after some prodding and bribing from my aunt. After we finish with that whole ordeal, we add some candles to the sofreh haftseen. Then, we visit my grandmother’s house, which was where all the really good Eidis could be expected.

We would go visit various family friends over the course of the next few weeks.

Others years, my extended family and I parted ways, as they traveled to Shiraz or Esfahan, mainly because the capital, Tehran, becomes so empty around the holiday. My khaleh, in particular, was and still is adamant about retreating to her home in Karaj with family and close friends during the Norooz holiday, all the way through Sizdeh bedar.

The city that some say observed as being more chaotic than our own New York City grows nearly silent. Shops, restaurants, and businesses in Tehran seem to halt and everyone goes on vacation to the Northern part of Tehran near the Caspian Sea, according to my late grandfather, who grew up in Gilan and cherished his roots there.

One of the best part of Norooz, both in Iran and here in America, is how practically every Iranian likes and partakes in it. No matter what ethnicity, age, religion, or political philosophy, Iranians seem unified in a way that they, in some respects, fail to be during the rest of the year. We both enjoy and represent the best Iran has to offer during this time of the year.

In America, many people say that the Christmas holiday season is so special because it is one of the few times of the year that loved ones are able to all gather together. Well, I think that same principle may be applied to Iranians and their New Year, as well. It is not only the New Year, but a celebration of the best of Persian culture.

That captures my earliest memories of Eideh Norooz, and I appreciate it in some ways more as I grow older, though the Eidis become less frequent for me. I truly hope the years to come bring all of us more great memories to add to the enriched mosaic of our lives.

Written by Sanam