Celebrating Nowruz: A Preschool Teacher’s View on Persian New Year
As a preschool teacher, I love introducing my little ones to the rich cultures and traditions of the world. One of the most vibrant and exciting celebrations we get to explore in class is Nowruz, the Persian New Year.
This holiday is full of joy, color, and meaningful traditions that beautifully tie together family, nature, and renewal.
It’s a perfect way to teach preschoolers about growth, community, and the changing seasons.
Here’s why I think Nowruz is such a wonderful celebration to introduce to young children:
The Magic of Spring and New Beginnings
Nowruz marks the first day of spring and the start of a new year. In our classroom, we talk a lot about how spring is a time when flowers bloom, trees grow new leaves, and the weather gets warmer.
For preschoolers, this idea of “starting fresh” is exciting!
It’s a beautiful opportunity to explain the concept of renewal and how nature begins anew, just like the children do as they learn and grow each day.
I love showing the children how Nowruz symbolizes a fresh start.
We talk about how they, too, can begin each day with a new chance to learn, be kind, and grow.
It’s a wonderful moment to encourage positive habits and a love for learning.
The Haft-Seen Table: A Fun Learning Activity
One of the most beloved traditions of Nowruz is the Haft-Seen Table, where families display seven symbolic items that start with the Persian letter S.
Each item represents something special:
- Sabzeh (sprouts): Symbolizing rebirth and growth.
- Seer (garlic): Representing health.
- Somāq (sumac berries): Representing the sunrise and patience.
- Serkeh (vinegar): Representing aging and wisdom.
- Senjed (dried oleaster fruit): Representing love.
- Samanu (sweet pudding): Representing strength and power.
- Sib (apple): Representing beauty and good health.
In our preschool classroom, we love creating our own mini Haft-Seen table.
The children can see the colours, touch the different items, and hear the meanings behind them.
It’s a hands-on learning experience where they can understand how important family traditions are, and why certain symbols are so meaningful in different cultures.
Chaharshanbe Suri: Jumping Over Fire
Before Nowruz begins, there’s a fun tradition called Chaharshanbe Suri, where people jump over small bonfires on the last Wednesday night of the year.
This tradition symbolizes the idea of getting rid of the old year’s bad luck and welcoming the new year with a fresh, positive spirit.
While we can’t exactly jump over fire in class, we make it a fun activity by creating paper “fires” and talking about how the flames represent getting rid of anything we don’t need anymore, like negative feelings or bad habits.
It’s a simple, safe way to connect preschoolers to the concept of letting go of things that no longer serve us.
Celebrating Together: Family, Food, and Fun
Nowruz is all about bringing people together.
In our class, we talk about how families come together to celebrate the new year by preparing special foods and visiting each other.
I encourage the kids to share stories about what their families do for holidays, and I always emphasize the importance of kindness, love, and helping others.
We also explore some traditional foods like Sabzi Polo Mahi (herbed rice with fish), which is a delicious and important meal during Nowruz.
While the kids might not get to try everything, they learn about different types of food and how food brings people together to celebrate.
We also enjoy making art projects inspired by Nowruz.
From painting colorful flowers to creating our own Haft-Seen displays with the children’s drawings, it’s a great way to get creative while learning about Persian traditions.
Teaching Preschoolers About Diversity
As a preschool teacher, one of the most important lessons I can teach my students is to appreciate diversity and learn about other cultures.
Nowruz provides a wonderful opportunity to talk about the ways different cultures celebrate new beginnings.
It helps the children understand that there are so many ways to celebrate important moments in life, and it encourages them to be respectful and curious about other people’s traditions.
The Spirit of Nowruz in the Classroom
Overall, Nowruz is a celebration of new beginnings, growth, and connection—values that are important for preschoolers to understand as they embark on their own learning journey.
Whether through music, food, or traditions, Nowruz is a beautiful holiday that reminds us all to embrace the changing seasons, celebrate with our loved ones, and look forward to the new opportunities ahead.
I’m so thankful to share the magic of Nowruz with my little learners, and I hope they carry the lessons of renewal, kindness, and family with them as they grow.
In this post, you will find a free printable colouring in page on Nawruz for your preschooler.
Happy Nowruz to everyone, and may it bring joy, peace, and new beginnings for all! 🌸
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