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Amoo Noruz and Nanneh Sarma
as told by Fazlolah Sobhi
Translated by Fereydoun Kian
Most Persian stories start with:
"Once there was, and then there wasn't, Uneder the purple sky, there was a..."
and since this story is no exception, so we shall begin the story of Amoo Nowruz or The Uncle New Year
 Once there was one, and then there wasn't
Under the purple sky, there was an old man named Amoo Noruz, who would come to town every year on the first day of spring. His beard and hair died red, with henna. His hat made of felt. He had a light blue shawl around his waist. Wore a pair of wide black cotton pants, and a pair of canvas, thin soled shoes. Every year, he would walk to the gates of town with a walking stick.
By the edge of town, lived an old lady called Nanneh Sarma-- or Nanny Frost, who was in love with Amoo Nowruz, and waited for him during the last days of winter.
Every morning she would get up early, sweep the house, and clean it all over.
Then she would begin with her make up. Just a few days earlier, she had started the work, by dying her hands and feet with henna, and today, almost the first day of spring, she would use seven different lines of make up. First was the eyeliner, and shading of the eyelids. Then she would powder her cheeks pink, and apply a a glossy red lipstick. A sprinckle of glitter over her hair always cheered her up. A bluish black beauty mark on the side of her right lips would definitley set her appart from those who did not think about that. Then she would dress in bright red leg wears and short plaid skirts. A breath ofr perfume over the hair and a touch of rose water behind her ears wouldn't be too much either.
She would then throw a rug in the terrace, overlooking the fountain pool. Her flowerbed, by this time, was filled with irises, and hyacinths of all colors. A Persian quince tree and a Japanese cherry tree were filled with spring blossoms; their branches swelled with tiny buds of light green shoots.
 She had placed in a silver tray "Haft Scene" or seven objects of happiness, which in Persian, they all begin with the letter S. They are all symbols of good things for the New Year, so Nanneh Sarma needed all the signs of good things she could possibly get.  Green sprouts, (Sabzeh)  Garlic, (seer)
 Vinegar (Serkeh)  Sumac, (Somagh)
 Apple,( Seeb)  Wheat pudding, (Samanoo)
and  senjed.
In another tray she had all sorts of dried fruits, candies, and sweets' cookies, cakes, nuts, raisins and chocolates.
Some colored eggs and a couple of goldfish in a fish-bowl were placed right by the mirror, between the two trays.
 Now She would brew some tea in a samovar , and place an orange in a bowl of water.
Then she would sit and wait for Amoo Noruz.
After all this work, as you can well imagine, it wouldn't take long for the old lady to get tired and fall into a little morning nap. Her eyelids would become heavy and fall down and slowly sleep would over take her.
 Meanwhile, Amoo Noruz would arrive. Of course he hates to wake up the sweet old lady in such an early hour of the day. From the flower bed, he picked a hyacinth and placed it on Nanneh Sarma's chest. Then he sat right besides her, fixing himself a cup of tea. Then Amoo Noruz picked an orange, ate half, and left the other half for Nanne Sarma. She was still sleep, but Amoo Noruz had a long day, so he got up, kiss Nanneh Sarma on a cheek and left.
 As the sun made her way to the terrace, Nanneh Sarma would wake up, finding her cheek tinkling. Then she would notice that everything on the trays had been touched, the orange had been peeled-- half of which was left for her, the tea had long been brewed, and the cup of tea was still warm. In her great dismay, she then would realize that Amoo Noruz had come and gone, but hesitated to wake her up.
 Nanneh Sarma would go desperate, pulling at her pearl necklace she would tearit up.
The pearls would run all over the place, and that's why there are usually hailstones on the first days of spring.
She would be exasperated at giving up to sleep at the wrong time, but now it is too late to regret. Her friends and neighbors comfort her by asking her to be patient and wait until the next Spring Day, when Amoo Noruz shall walk from the mountains and pass by her house once again.
Nanne Sarma had to accept their advice.
Nobody knows if she could ever see Amoo Noruz. Some say if the two should ever meet, it will be the end of the world.
As of today, we can say that the two have not yet met, since the world still has not come to an end.
If you liked this story, You will definitly enjoy the story of Persian New Year. See Holidays in March. Click and Enjoy!
Get Fereydoun Kian's book to learn about many countries. It's called Humpty Dumpty Sat on the Globe.
Copyright, 2004 Global Education a Not for Profit 501(c)3 organization in Miami, Florida, focused the global understanding, through arts and literature wrapped in geography education. www.globalkids.info
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