Haft-sin
Haft-seen () is an arrangement of seven symbolic items whose names start with the letter "س" (pronounced as "seen"), the 15th letter in the Persian alphabet; "haft" (هفت) is Persian for "seven". It is traditionally displayed at Nowruz, the Iranian New Year, which is celebrated on the day of the vernal equinox, marking the beginning of spring in the Northern Hemisphere. Items of Haft-seen. The following are the primary items of Haft-sin, whose Persian names begin with the letter "sin" in the Persian alphabet. Coins (سکه "sekke"), hyacinth (سنبل "sombol"), and clock (ساعت "suat" also pronounced  so-at) are sometimes included too. Other symbolic items that are typically used to accompany Haft-sin include a mirror, candles, painted eggs, goldfish, and traditional Persian confections. A "book of wisdom" is also commonly included, which might be the Quran, Avesta, the Shahnameh, or the Divān of Hafez. Symbolic Roots of Haft-seen. The Haft-Seen table represents nature. By tradition, Iranian families take great pains to create the most beautiful Haft-Seen table that they can, for not only does it embody values both traditional and spiritual, it is also appreciated by the visitors during Nowruz visiting exchanges  as a reflection of the families' aesthetic sense and good taste. Items that start with Persian letter "س": Other items that start with Persian letter "س" that are sometimes included: Items that don't start with "س" but, nonetheless, are invariably included: Afghan Haft Mewa. In Afghanistan, people prepare "Haft Mēwa" () (literally translates as "Seven Fruits") in addition to or instead of "Haft Seen" which is common in Iran. Haft Mewa is like a fruit salad made from seven different dried fruits, served in their own syrup. The seven dried fruits are: raisins, "Senjed" (the dried fruit of the oleaster  tree), pistachios, hazelnuts, prunes (dried apricots), walnuts and either almonds or another species of plum fruit.