Light & Renewal - Honouring Ramadan & Nowruz

As spring arrives, so does the joyful celebration of a new year—Nowruz, or Persian New Year! Marking the beginning of the year in the Iranian Solar Hijri calendar, Nowruz kicks off around March 21st and spans 13 days filled with traditions, joy, and meaningful rituals. Families honor the season with classic games, delicious foods, beautiful art, and time-honored customs. One of the most symbolic is planting Sabzeh—wheat seeds that, over the course of two weeks, grow into vibrant green sprouts. The kids poured their energy into each step of the process, watching with excitement as their tiny seeds transformed into lush grass.

Sabzeh is just one of the symbolic items placed on the Persian New Year table, known as the Haft Sin. This beautifully arranged spread features seven items that all begin with the Persian letter "S" (س)—each one carrying its own special meaning. Alongside the lush Sabzeh, you’ll often find sprouted mung beans or lentils, Samanu (a sweet, creamy pudding), Senjed (dried lotus fruit), Serkeh (vinegar), Seeb (apple), Seer (garlic), and Somaq (sumac). Many also include a mirror to reflect light and truth, and a vibrant Hyacinth flower to welcome spring with fragrance and colour.

Ramadan, also known as Ramazan, is a sacred month observed with prayer, fasting, and time spent in reflection with loved ones. In our classrooms, we embraced the spirit of this important time in Muslim culture by exploring its meaning through stories, art projects, and collaborative activities. As Ramadan comes to a close with the sighting of the crescent moon, the joyous celebration of Eid al-Fitr begins—aptly named “the festival of breaking the fast.” To honor this beautiful tradition, the children crafted lanterns and crescent moons, symbolizing the new light and hope that shines at the end of this meaningful month.

As we continue to move into more festivities from different cultures that trend toward the dawn of spring, we look forward to seeing the children in our centre express themselves through art, music and literature. Whether they're sharing their own cultural traditions with their peers, or learning about new ones they may not have heard of before, it's always exciting to watch as the children honour celebrations from around the world.