One of the first steps in welcoming the New Year is completing a general house cleaning. This tradition is called “Khooneh Takooni,” and is observed a few days before Norouz: Proper completion of the tradition entails cleaning every part of the house, dusting furniture, washing carpets and so on. The practice complements the new season and freshness that comes along with spring and the New Year. Buying new clothes is also part of the rituals that lead up to Norouz. After you freshen up your house and your wardrobe, it is time for Chahr Shanbe Soori, which takes place just before Saal Tahvil on the last Tuesday night of the year. During Chahr Shanbeh Soori people set up bon fires, and leap over them with songs and gestures of merriment.

Haft Seen, or in English the “Seven S’s,” is one of the most important and prominent rituals in preparing for Norouz. The tradition is called the Seven S’s because each item set on the table begins with the letter “S.” While the items can vary the most common combination include: Seeb (apple, symbolizing health, natural beauty, fragrance), Sabzeh (green grass, symbolizing purity, opulence, and good fortune), Serkeh (vinegar, symbolizing age and patience; wards off bitterness in life), Samanu (a meal made out of wheat, symbolizing sweetness, fertility, having many children), Senjed (a special kind of berry, symbolizing love), Seer (garlic, symbolizing medicine for recovering from evil) and Somagh (an Iranian spice, symbolizing color of the sun at sunrise). There is also a copy of the holy Quran placed on the haft seen to bless the New Year. Other items include a few live gold fish placed in a fish bowl and mirrors, which are placed on the spread with lit candles.

When the clock strikes the appropriate hour, the New Year corresponds with the exact moment that the Astronomic New Year begins, all the members of the family in their clean and new outfits gather around the Norouz table and Haftseen. The family begins the New Year with a prayer for health, happiness and prosperity from the holy Quran, usually along these lines: "O Reformer of hearts and minds, Director of day and night and Transformer of conditions, change ours to the best in accordance with your will."

After the initial celebration to welcome the New Year, the members of the family hug and kiss each other, eat the bounties prepared for the New Year and wish each other the best. Then the oldest member of the family (usually the father) presents the Eidi (New Year's gift) to younger members. The Eidi usually consists of new and unused paper money that were placed between the pages of the Holy Quran. The following days are filled with visiting between relatives and close family friends.

The 13th day of the New Year is called "Sizdah Bedar" and spent mostly outdoors. People will leave their homes to go to parks or local plains for a festive picnic. It is a must to spend Sizdah Bedar outdoors. It is on this day that people throw the Sabzeh away, because it is regarded a bad omen to keep the Sabzeh in the house after "Sizdah Bedar". Iranians regard 13th day as a bad omen and believe that by going into the fields and parks they avoid misfortunes.

Norouz is a very special holiday for Persians and Muslims, and is observed in Iran, Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Turkey, Albania, Georgia, Turkmenistan, Tajikstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and by the Kurds. It is observed without all the same traditions and celebrations as describe above but instead recognized as a holy day for followers of Sufism (sect of Islam) and Bahai faiths. While the practices may vary, the spirit of harmony and celebration do not. The Inside Hookah staff would like to take a moment to wish all of our reader a very happy Norouz!