Gallery Storytelling: A Dip Into Persian New Year At The Mehran's

Touri Mehran prepares for a Persian New Year (also known as Nowruz) party at her house in Bethesda, Md. on Mar. 20, 2013, to celebrate the beginning of spring.

One of the most common components of the Persian New Year is a Haft Sin (also known as the traditional table setting of Nowruz). 

One part of the Haft Sin holds items such as coins (symbolize wealth), garlic (symbolizes medicine), sumac berries (symbolize sunrise), vinegar (symbolizes age and patience), sweet pudding (symbolizes affluence), and dried fruit (symbolizes love). 

One part of the Haft Sin possesses decorated eggs, which symbolize humans and fertility.

Here are just a few of the postcards the Mehran’s have received for Persian New Years.

From left to right, Christina Mehran and Daniel Ashtary-Yazdi, as well as Bahador Moinian and Afsi Goodarzpoor, are seen chatting before dinner.  

Dinner is about to be served as all of the food has been cooked and is ready to go on the table.

In this image, the two bowls of rosewater symbolize water, which is believed to have magical cleansing powers, while the wheat sprouts represent rebirth.

From left to right, Mazi Moinian, Nader Mehran, Daniel Ashtary-Yazdi, Ally Drysdale, Sara Moinian, and Niloofar Ashtary-Yazdi, are seen eating dinner.

Bahador Moinian (left), and Daniel Ashtary-Yazdi (right), are seen viewing an image on a smartphone after dinner. 

After dinner, Kourosh Ashtary-Yazdi takes a peak at the decorated eggs in the Haft Sin.

Christina Mehran (left), and Zia Mehran (middle), are seen dancing just before dessert, as Bahram Nozad (right) looks on.