As the dummy goes up in smoke the firecrackers also go off to add to the festivities. The old year is forgotten and the new year begins. Our family decided to use this idea in our own American celebrations. People plant miniature container gardens and receive new clothing to eat a special meal of eggs and pilaf. This meal is believed to bring them good luck.
Friends go visiting and bring gifts of fruit, flowers and colored eggs.
They gather together to watch for special things to happen at midnight. For example, the eggs are put on a mirror to see if they shake. The belief is that the New Year starts when the eggs begin to shake. Iranians also study from the Koran, their holy book and worship God. In India, the Hindus have a New Year celebration four times a year to welcome each of the four seasons.