Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-03-22
Ironiuns Celebrate
NoroUz Festival
By Ruth Dean

The first day Of spring made
its arrival in Washington yes
terday with a cold drizzle butt
was the cause too. for a gala
celebration at the Iranian EN-
bassy. It drew about 300 guests
from diplomatic and official
circles.
The Iraniaii Ambassador, Mr..
Nasrollah Entezam, was host at
a reception in observance OF
the ancient festival of Norouz
or the Iranian New Years Day,
which always falls on the first
day of spring.
The history Of the festival
goes back at least 1000 years.
an embassy aide explained, but
even then Iranians can't
estimate the exact date of its
beginning. 1t is lost in fable
and legend. It's always been a
great time of celebration, often
going on for days. he said, with
gift giving and observance Of
traditional customs.
Festival Custom
Many Of the guests at last
nights party must have
wondered as they passed by a
table in the drawing room
which contained an unusual
assortment of objects. In
cluded were a hyacinth plant.
a small tumbler of vinegar, a
tray of apples and small dishes
of wheat seeds and sumac.
Those who asked found out
this display represented one Of
the most ancient of Narouz
customs-the table of seven SIS.
The table must be set with
seven objects, each starting
with the letter S in Iranian.
And bad weather does little
to dampen the spirits of fes-
tival celebrants. In some parts
Of Iran, the weather is as I'M
practicable as Washington'S,
but come rain or shine on the
18th day after Norouz, all
families should spend the day
outdoors, according to another
custom, if they wish favorable
fortune in the year ahead.
Mony Pay Wishes
Yesterdays weather certainly
was no deterrent to the many
guests who crowded into the
embassy to wish the ambas-
sador "happy New Year" and
enjoy a buffet which was pre-
pared for the occasion in an
awninged outside Enclosure.
Early arrivals included House
Minority Leader Joseph w.
Martin, jr. AS one of the bache-
Tor guests attending, he smil-
ingly agreed to pose for pic
lures with his host, who is also
a bachelor. Others there were
the Chinese Ambassador, the
French Ambassador. the IN
dian Ambassador and Mrs.
Mehta, the Ecuadorian Am
bassador, the Ambassador
of Burma and Mrs. Bar
rington, and the Ambassador Of
Ceylon and Mrs. Gunerwar-
dene. She wore one Of her
exotic rose saris.
The Director of Central In
telligence and Mrs. Allen w.
Dulles arrived with Mr.. and
Mrs. Kermit Roosevelt. Chief
of Protocol and Mrs. John F.
Simmons and a number of
other diplomats, including the
Korean Ambassador, the Meth
erlands Ambassador and Nine.
van Rotten. who were hurrying
on to a dinner engagement;
the German Ambassador Heinz
Krekeler, and the Colombian
Ambassador Zuleta-Angel.
Also there were the chair
man of the House Foreign At
fairs Committee and Mrs.
James P. Richards. the Finnish
Ambassador, the South African
Ambassador and Mrs. Hollo-
way. the New Zealand Ambas-
sador and Lady Munro, the
Egyptian Ambassador, Mrs.
John D. Jernegan. wife Of the
Deputy Assistant Secretary of
State; the Deputy Chief of
Protocol and Mrs. Victor Purse,
Senator and Mrs. Dennis
Chavez. Mrs. Robert v. Garner,
and the venezuelan Ambassa-
dor and Sonora de Gonzalez.
Receive Decoration
Earlier in the evening, the
French Embassy was the
scene of a brief ceremony in
which four prominent Wash
ingtonians received the Che
Waller of the Legion Of Honor,
one of Frances most coveted
decorations.
It marked the first time that
the French Ambassador, Mr..
Maurice Couve de Murville,