Noruz (Iranian new year):

(from http://www.farsinet.com/norooz/haftsinn1.html )

Sofre-ye Haft-Sin

A few days prior to the New Year, a special cover is spread on to the Persian carpet or on a table in every Persian household. This ceremonial table is
called cloth of seven dishes, (each one beginning with the Persian letter cinn). The number seven has been sacred in Iran since the ancient times, and
the seven dishes stand for the seven angelic heralds of life-rebirth, health, happiness, prosperity, joy, patience, and beauty.

The symbolic dishes consist of:

The Spread of The Seven "S"'s (sofre-ye haft sin) 1.Sabzeh or sprouts, usually wheat or lentil representing rebirth. 2.Samanu is a pudding in which common wheat sprouts are transformed and given new life as a sweet, creamy pudding and represents the ultimate sophistication of Persian cooking. 3.Sib means apple and represents health and beauty. 4.Senjed the sweet, dry fruit of the Lotus tree, represents love. It has been said that when lotus tree is in full bloom, its fragrance and its fruit make people fall in love and become oblivious to all else. 5.Sir which is garlic in Persian, represents medicine. 6.Somaq sumac berries, represent the color of sunrise; with the appearance of the sun Good conquers Evil. 7.Serkeh or vinegar, represents age and patience.

Other elements can include:

a few coins placed on the sofreh represent prosperity and wealth;
a basket of painted eggs represents fertility;
a Seville orange floating in a bowl of water represents the earth floating in space;
a goldfish in a bowl represents life and the end of astral year-picas;
a flask of rose water known for its magical cleansing power, is also included on the tablecloth;
Nearby is a brazier for burning wild rue ,a sacred herb whose smoldering fumes ward off evil spirits;
A pot of flowering hyacinth or narcissus is also set on the sofreh;
A mirror which represents the images and reflections of Creation as we celebrate anew the ancient Persian traditions and beliefs that creation
took place on the first day of spring.
On either side of the mirror are two candlesticks holding a flickering candle for each child in the family. The candles represent enlightenment
and happiness;

images of noruz:

Idealized, 19th century (Qajar) pictures:

Prayer said during the Haftsin:

ya muqallib al-qulub wa 'l-ahwal
hawwil halina ila ahsan 'l-hal

"O you,
transformer of hearts and spiritual states
make our states the loveliest of states."

Other elements:

Haji Firuz (Persian Santa Claus?): Troubadours, referred to as Haji Firuz, disguise themselves with makeup and wear brightly colored outfits of satin.
These Haji Firuz, singing and dancing, parade as a carnival through the streets with tambourines, kettle drums, and trumpets to spread good cheer and
the news of the coming new year.

Chahar-shanbeh Suri: leaping over the flames

Sizdah bedar: "getting rid of the 13"

The two weeks long NoRooz celebration ends with SeezDeh Bedar. SeezDeh means Thirteen and SeezDeh Bedar is the process of getting over with or
passing over the thirteenth day of the New Year.

This tradition is called Seezdah Bedar (seezdah means thirteen) which in English translates to "getting rid of thirteen". This fun and exciting outing
involves all family members and is intended to end the holiday season on a relaxing and positive note. The concept of avoiding the number thirteen is
mainly to symbolize the will and power to deal with all evil in the new year.

An interesting ritual performed at the end of the picnic day is to throw away the Sabzee from the Nowrooz Haft Seen table. The sabzee is supposed to
have collected all the sickness, pain and ill fate hiding on the path of the family throughout the coming year! Touching someone else's sabzee on this
thirteenth day or bringing it home is therefore not a good idea and may result in absorbing their pain and hardship.

A picture of the sprouting green (sabzeh) grown around this time:

Another meaningful ritual performed with the dumping of the sabzee is that young single women tie the sabzee leave(s) prior to discarding it,
symbolizing the wish to be tied in a marriage by the Seezdah Bedar of next year! The young ladies are often heard whispering the following rhyme
while tying the leaves:

"Sal-e deegar, khune-yeh showhar, bacheh baghal!"

This translates to: "Next year, in the husband's house, with a baby in arms!"

Newly weds also tie a grass knot making wishes for a baby, a house, or whatever is on their Have-To-Have list.

Noruz cards, as a chance to express cultural, national, and/or religious identity:

(the three, from left to right, foucs more on religious imagery, idealistic nature imagery, and pre-Islamic nationalist heritage)