Sabzeh (سبزه) – Sprouts of Wheat, Barley, or Lentils

Symbolizes: rebirth, renewal, vitality of nature

Sabzeh is the lush green centerpiece of most Haft-Seen tables. Families begin growing it about two weeks before Nowruz, using wheat, barley, lentils, or mung beans soaked and spread in a shallow dish.:contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}

The fresh shoots represent:

• The earth waking up from winter
• Hope for personal growth and renewal
• The continuity of life from one year to the next

In some households, the Sabzeh is later returned to nature—placed in running water or on soil—symbolizing the release of last year’s worries and the wish to recycle that energy into something new.

Samanu (سمنو) – Sweet Wheat-Germ Pudding

Symbolizes: abundance, strength, sweetness of life

Samanu is a thick, caramel-colored pudding made entirely from germinated wheat and water, slowly cooked and stirred—traditionally overnight—until it becomes naturally sweet.:contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}

Its symbolism includes:

• Fertility and growth – from tiny grains to a rich, nourishing food
• Strength and resilience – the energy stored in wheat
• Shared joy – Samanu is often made in groups, turning cooking into a communal ritual

Because it contains no added sugar, Samanu also reflects faith in nature’s ability to provide sweetness on its own.

Senjed (سنجد) – Dried Oleaster Fruit

Symbolizes: love, affection, and emotional grounding

Senjed is the dried fruit of the oleaster (Russian olive) tree, used in traditional Persian medicine and folk beliefs.:contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}

According to popular sayings, the scent of the oleaster blossom can make people fall in love. Because of this, Senjed on the Haft-Seen stands for:

• The sweetness of emotional bonds
• Faithful, enduring love (like a tough, drought-resistant tree)
• Balancing reason with affection

Seer (سیر) – Garlic

Symbolizes: medicine, protection, purification

Seer, or garlic, has long been valued as a natural medicine and disinfectant in Iranian culture.:contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}

On the Haft-Seen table, garlic typically represents:

• Good health and the power of prevention
• Protection from harm and negativity
• Cleansing of body and environment

Many modern interpretations also see Seer as a reminder to make wise, health-conscious choices in the year ahead.

Serkeh (سرکه) – Vinegar

Symbolizes: patience, maturity, and acceptance

Serkeh is wine or other liquid transformed slowly into vinegar. That long transformation gives Serkeh its symbolism::contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10}

• Patience – good things often take time and fermentation
• Wisdom and age – learning from the sour and difficult parts of life
• Resilience – turning hardship into something useful and flavorful

In some interpretations, Serkeh also stands for humility—accepting what we cannot control while still striving to improve what we can.

Seeb (سیب) – Apple

Symbolizes: health, beauty, and balance

Seeb, usually bright red or green apples, is one of the most visually striking elements of the Haft-Seen. Persian proverbs praise apples as daily protectors against illness, similar to the English “an apple a day keeps the doctor away.”:contentReference[oaicite:11]{index=11}

Apples on the table represent:

• Physical health – keeping the body strong and balanced
• Beauty and freshness – rosy cheeks, clear skin, vitality
• Harmony – a whole, rounded fruit symbolizing wholeness in life

Somaq (سماق) – Sumac

Symbolizes: sunrise, justice, and the flavor of life

Somaq is a crimson spice made from dried sumac berries, commonly sprinkled on grilled meat or rice. On the Haft-Seen table, its deep red color is linked with the color of the sunrise and the “new day” that Nowruz celebrates.:contentReference[oaicite:12]{index=12}

Its meanings often include:

• The rising sun – light overcoming darkness
• Life’s flavor – the tang that makes experiences memorable
• Justice and fairness – in some folk readings, the red of dawn is tied to moral clarity

Sonbol (سنبل) – Hyacinth

Symbolizes: spring, beauty, and friendship

A pot or vase of hyacinth blossoms fills the room with fragrance just as spring begins. Sources describe Sonbol as a symbol of the return of greenery and the aesthetic joy of the season.:contentReference[oaicite:14]{index=14}

Sekkeh (سکه) – Coins

Symbolizes: prosperity, livelihood, and lawful earnings

Sekkeh, a small stack of coins—sometimes newly minted—expresses a wish for:

• Financial stability
• Growth in income and savings
• Wealth gained through honest work

Many families keep old or commemorative coins specifically for this purpose.:contentReference[oaicite:15]{index=15}

Mirror (آینه)

Symbolizes: clarity, reflection, and the sky

A mirror is usually placed at the back of the table so the entire Haft-Seen—and often the family sitting around it—is reflected in it. Some scholars connect the mirror to the sky and cosmic order, others to self-reflection and inner honesty.:contentReference[oaicite:16]{index=16}

Candles (شمع)

Symbolizes: light, warmth, and life force

Candles flanking the mirror are often lit at the moment the new year arrives. In Zoroastrian-influenced symbolism, they echo sacred fire and the presence of divine light; more broadly, they represent hope, life, and guidance through darkness.:contentReference[oaicite:17]{index=17}

Painted Eggs

Symbolizes: fertility, family, and new beginnings

Eggs, usually one for each family member, are painted in bright colors and placed near the center of the table. Like Easter eggs in European traditions, they stand for fertility, new life, and the continuation of the family line.:contentReference[oaicite:18]{index=18}

Goldfish (ماهی)

Symbolizes: life, movement, and the turning of the year

A small bowl with a goldfish became a popular addition in more recent centuries. The moving fish symbolizes::contentReference[oaicite:19]{index=19}

• The continuous flow of life
• The last month of the Iranian calendar (associated with the zodiac sign Pisces)
• The transition from the old year to the new

Many families now opt for ethical alternatives such as symbolic fish figurines or drawings to avoid harm to live animals.

Book of Wisdom (Qur’an, Shahnameh, Hafez, Avesta, etc.)

Symbolizes: wisdom, guidance, cultural memory

A book of wisdom often sits open on the Haft-Seen. Depending on the family’s belief and tradition, it might be:

• The Qur’an (for Muslim families)
• The Avesta (for Zoroastrian families)
• The Shahnameh (Book of Kings)
• The Divan of Hafez (poetry used for bibliomancy and reflection):contentReference[oaicite:20]{index=20}

This element connects the new year to a deeper ethical, spiritual, or literary tradition.

Sweets, Nuts, Rosewater, and Other Additions

Many Haft-Seen tables also feature:

• Traditional sweets – baklava, noghl, nan-e nokhodchi, and more, symbolizing sweetness in the year ahead.
• Mixed nuts and dried fruits – abundance, hospitality, sharing with guests.:contentReference[oaicite:21]{index=21}
• Rosewater (گلاب) – purity, blessing, and a fragrant atmosphere.
• Photographs – especially of loved ones far away or deceased, tying the celebration to memory and family continuity.
• National or cultural symbols – flags or cultural objects, especially in diaspora households, to honor heritage.