Several Iranian students gathered at Sir George Williams campus to participate.
On March 15, Iranian students at Concordia University came together to celebrate a cherished tradition from their homeland: painting and decorating eggs to celebrate the Persian New Year, also known as Nowruz. Hosted by the Iranian Student Association of Concordia University, the event offered boiled eggs, colourful markers and snacks.
“Cultural events [like ours] offer more than just a celebration of traditions; they provide a gateway to understanding, unity and belonging,” said Ariana Karimi, the President of the Iranian Student Association.
Coloured eggs symbolize fertility and rebirth. They are placed on the Haft sin table, a centrepiece of the Persian New Year celebration, to symbolize new beginnings for the upcoming year. Haft sin features seven items that start with the letter ‘S’ in the Persian alphabet, each symbolizing different hopes for the new year—the eggs are an exception. For example, Seeb (apple) symbolizes beauty, Sir (garlic) symbolizes medicine and good health, and Serkeh (vinegar) symbolizes age and patience.
The word Nowruz in Farsi means “new day” and is rooted in the ancient Iranian religion, Zoroastrianism. Nowruz celebration dates back over 3,000 years to many ethnic groups in Afghanistan, Azarbaijan, Turkey and their diaspora worldwide.
