Nowruz ? the Persian New Year ? is one of the world's great festivals, a full month of activities celebrating the earth, the arrival of spring, and the rebirth of nature. Most of all, it is a festival for families. Children and adults alike can share in preparing special meals, decorating the house, and performing the many ceremonies that welcome the New Year. This book is a guide to customs thousands of years old yet as vital as ever ? enjoyable for families no matter where they live or what their beliefs. Happy Nowruz offers twenty-five fun, easy, and innovative Nowruz recipes, with lots of photos to show you what to do. This is an ideal guide for parents, teachers, and kids ? age six and older ? to know more about the origins of Nowruz and to get everyone involved in preparing for the arrival of spring by: ? baking Haji Firuz cookies ? germinating seeds in eggshells ? coloring eggs ? making a Nowruz garland ? jumping over fires ? setting the Haft-sinn (seven-s) holiday table ? planting narcissus and hyacinth bulbs ? selecting and buying goldfish ? banging spoons for trick-or-treating ? cooking the Nowruz dinner ? enjoying the Outdoor Thirteen picnic