Festival of Nowruz

Today in Reston town centre there was a festival in celebration of Nowruz, the Persian New Year.  The main street was closed to normal traffic and there were many stalls representing different aspects of Persian/Iranian culture such as the Zoroastran faith, Persian hot food and drink, support groups for children in need in Iran, Persian rugs and  sweetmeats and biscuits.

We bought some Baklava flavoured with pistachio, rose and cardamom from this stall which had a display of items relating to the celebration of Nowruz.   It is traditional to have at least seven items beginning with the letter S and each has a meaning relating to hopes for the New Year, reawakening after winter and the promise of new life and new growth.  The symbols on display included the goldfish in a jar, the apples, the garlic, powdered sumac, growing wheat, money and the hyacinth flower.

Under the pavilion, the winter ice-skating rink has been packed away and there wasa stage with traditional singing and dancing in front of a large crowd and women in traditional costume.

There were many people of all ages and nationalities in town enjoying the festival including many Persian/Iranian extended families.  It was such a shame that the weather that we had yesterday - with sunshine and temperatures of 17C had given way to dull grey skies, a cold wind and temperatures of only 4 or 5C.  

This evening, as forecast, the temperature has dropped below zero and it has been snowing for several hours.  Hopefully this will be our last snowstorm of the winter, but 4-6 inches is forecast..