Haft sin - Persian New Year 1392

The haft-sin (or the "Seven S's") is a deeply ingrained portion of Iranian Naw-Ruz celebrations( also spelled Nowruz as well as other variants, is an ancient Persian holiday celebrating the new year).It is a table bearing seven traditional items starting with the letter "S". These displays are a source of pride for families who often put considerable effort into their appearance so as to be pleasing to visitors

The traditional items are:

• Sabza – Wheat, barley or lentils that have been allowed to grow for several days       in a dish. They symbolize renewal and are often disposed of in running water after the celebrations, taking with it the bad influences of the previous year.

• Sepand - Seeds of wild rue, generally burned as incense.

• Sib – Apples, symbolizing beauty and health.

• Sekka – Newly minted coins, symbolizing wealth.

• Sir - Garlic cloves, symbolizing medicine.

• Serka – Vinegar, symbolizing age and patience

• Samanu – A thick, sweet paste made from wheat, oil, water, almonds and walnuts. Commonly eaten at the Naw-Ruz feast as well as distributed to neighbors. It symbolizes affluence.

Other common items that may also be included on the table (or substituted for some of the items above):

• Solbol – Hyacinth, symbolizing the coming spring

• Senjed – Druit fruit of the oleaster tree, symbolizing love

• Somaq – Sumac berries, symbolizing sunrise, which is also commonly associated with renewal

Additional common decorations of the haft-sin table not starting with the letter "S" include:

• Candles

• Mirrors to reflect candlelight

• Colored eggs, representing the fertility of spring

• A holy book appropriate to the religion of the table's creator

http://altreligion.about.com/od/ritualsandpractices/a/haftsin.htm