Food eaten around Nowruz
For Iranians, this food is the most common food to eat the Eve or on the day of Nowruz:
- Sabzi Polo Ba Mahi (Herb Rice with Fish)
- Aash (fresh herb, bean, and noodle soup)
- Grilled Kabobs
- Zeytoon Parvardeh (Olive pomegranate dip)
Sabzi Polo Ba Mahi (Herb Rice with Fish)
March 20th and 21st are usually the day celebrated as the New Year, but which other astronomically significant day is it known as?
- Retrograde of the Sun
- Conjunction of the Sun and the Earth
- Spring Equinox
- Spring Solar Return
Spring Equinox
Senjed is an uncommon fruit but is used as an element to symbolize what virtue?
- Peace
- Love
- Resilience
- Courage
Love
In Northern Afghanistan, there is a festival called Red Flower, which is supposed to represent the growth of red tulips. What is the duration of the growth of red tulips after Nowruz?
- 13 days
- 40 days
- 24 days
- 32 days
40 days
Esfand, commonly called wild rue, is a type of seed usually burned in a pot and then swirled above an individual to do all of the following except:
- Release bad energies/get rid of evil eye
- Bring good blessings
- Boost the resilience of an individual
- Fear away harmful infections and diseases
Boost the resilience of an individual
Sizdah-be-dar, also known as Nature day, is a day celebrated after the passing of the Nowruz days. What food is not consumed traditionally on sizdah-be-dar?
- Sekanjabin (ancient persian sweet and sour syrup)
- Ashe-Reshte (noodle soup)
- Ashe-Doogh (yogurt soup)
- Abe-anar (pomegranate juice)
Abe-anar (pomegranate juice)
Before Nowruz starts, there is a prelude celebration called charshanbe suri. What is done on this day?
- People jump over fires to represent cleansing of the soul
- People pop colorful balloons to represent the fading of worries into the New Year
- People burn esfand (a spice) and twirling it around one’s head as a way to bring blessings and luck
- People dip their hands into river water to bring good fortune in the year ahead
People jump over fires to represent cleansing of the soul
The haftseen is a decorative table in which there are symbols of growth and blessings represented by each item on the haftseen. What is the first letter of most items on the Haftseen?
- S
- A
- H
- N
The Letter S
('Seen' is the letter S)
Which one of these countries is not known for its people to traditionally celebrate Nowruz?
- Azerbaijan
- Turkey
- Egypt
- Bhutan
Egypt
The origins of Nowruz came from what religion?
- Buddhism
- Sikhism
- Islam
- Zoroastrianism
Zoroastrianism
What vegetable is usually dipped into sekanjabin (an ancient persian sweet and sour syrup)?
- Kale
- Lettuce
- Red bell peppers
- spinach
Lettuce
Approximately how long has the tradition of Nowruz been around?
- 1200 years
- 2500 years
- 3000 years
- 4300 years
3000 years
How many elements are supposed to be on the Haftseen (Hint- it's in the name if you know it)
- 4
- 7
- 9
- 3
7 elements
('Haft' is seven in Farsi)
What country makes the traditional samoluk dish for Nowruz?
- Iraq
- Kazakhstan
- Kyrgyzstan
- Armenia
Kyrgyzstan
The number of people that celebrate Nowruz globally is what?
- 154 million
- 250 million
- 316 million
- 300 million
300 million people
What type of pastry is traditionally eaten to symbolize the arrival of spring?
- Baklava
- Rose flavored cream puffs
- Saffron Shortbread
- Ranginak
Baklava
Sizdah-be-dar, also known as Nature day, is a day celebrated how many days after Nowruz?
- The 15th day
- The 21st day
- The 13th day
- The 9th day
The 13th day
Which type of sprout bean is not grown for “sabzeh” on the haftseen?
- Mung beans
- Lentils
- Wheat
- Rye berries
Rye berries
What mythical figure often depicted as an elderly man with a long white beard is said to bring joy and blessings to the persian nowruz festivities?
- Amo Nowruz
- Haji Firouz
- Santa Khan
- Baba Noel
Amo Nowruz
What flowers are commonly used to decorate homes during this time?
- Hyacinth and Narcissus
- Poppy and Lily
- Daisy and Azalea
- Orchid and Peony
Hyacinth and Narcissus
What sweet and sticky confection made from germinated wheat and symbolizes sweetness and rebirth is commonly eaten around Nowruz?
- Samanoo
- Halva
- Gazz squares
- Pistachio pudding
Samanoo
(This is one of the haft seen elements!)
On sizdah-be-dar, people not only spend their day out in nature, but they also tend to:
- Go to see a play
- Go to each other's houses
- Stay in and rest
- Wake up to see the sunrise
Go to each other's houses
What element of the haftseen is tossed into a river on sizdah-be-dar?
- Green sprouts
- Tulips or lilies
- Small coins
- Senjed or russian olives (small oleaster fruit)
Green sprouts
In ancient times, the original location where Nowruz first took place, considered the capital of Nowruz, was where?
- Akre, Iraq and Kurdistan
- Istanbul, Turkiye
- Isfahan, Iran
- Baalbek, Lebanon
Akre, Iraq and Kurdistan
Eidi during Nowruz is a common form of gift giving towards a loved one often through:
- New clothing
- Food delicacies
- Money
- Jewelry
Money