Kids & Family

Happy Norooz! Celebrate the Persian New Year or Eid-i Shoma Mobarak

The Persian new year will be celebrated locally at Arya Global Cuisine in neighboring Cupertino with special menus and entertainment.

The ancient celebration of Norooz officially began in Mountain View at 10:14 p.m. Monday, but the Persian New Year celebration lasts for 13 days, a festival that marks the end of winter. So there's still time to celebrate!

Stop by on Castro Street south of El Camino Real to capture the essence of this event. You'll see the signs wishing well throughout the store and you'll also see the haft-seen table populated with the symbolic seven items that represent good fortune for the new year:

  • Senjed: dried fruit of the oleaster tree, a berry native to the region (love)
  • Sir: garlic (protection from illness and evil)
  • Serkeh: vinegar (longevity and patience)
  • Sekkeh: coins (prosperity)
  • Sabzeh: green wheat sprouts or grass (abundance)
  • Samanu: sweet pudding (sweetness of life)
  • Somaq: sumac berries (a new dawn)
  • Sib: apples (beauty and health)

If you wish to try something with the family, Rose International Market offers catering as well as delicious hot, prepared dishes from its kitchen and grill.

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Another cozy neighborhood restaurant, serves authentic Iranian (Persian) cuisine at 1414 W. El Camino Real. Telephone: 650-988-8895.

Or head to  in Cupertino where the joyous occasion begins in the lobby where the traditional haft-seen table is on display.

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Norooz, which coincides with the vernal equinox, means "new day" and include cultural customs such as spring cleaning of the home, buying new clothes, and visiting family, friends and neighbors.

On March 26 and 27 the Persian theme continues, this time as part of , which benefits West Valley Community Services. Half of the proceeds from the event—advance purchase tickets  are $24 and at the door prices are $26—go straight to the nonprofit that serves the less fortunate in the communities of Cupertino, Saratoga, Los Gatos, Monte Sereno and West San Jose. For more information visit www.TasteOfCompassion.org


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