Spring Into Nowruz: Family Day

Celebrate the Persian New Year

Celebrate Nowruz and the start of spring with us virtually! Enjoy a fun, family-friendly afternoon filled with interactive workshops, music, crafts, storytelling, and more to welcome the Persian New Year. Co-presented with Pardis for Children.

Schedule of Events

1 p.m.

Create Haft-seen in Clay
Instructor: Aida Izadpanah, Ph.D.

Preserve the beauty and joy of the Nowruz tradition of preparing Haft-seen table arrangements through this artistic workshop. Taught by well-known artist and sculptor, Aida Izadpanah, this fun family workshop provides an introduction to the seven components of Haft-seen and their meanings. Children can sculpt these elements out of non-toxic clay and create beautiful miniature Haft-seen pieces that they can later paint.

List of materials:

Air-dry clay or colorful Play-Doh
Pencil to form the clay and details of the items
Water-based paints for painting the Haft-seen items after drying (not needed if using Play-Doh)
Paintbrushes
Glass of water for cleaning brushes
Plate as a base for the Haft-seen items

1:30 p.m.

Nowruz Egg Decoration
Instructor: Alma Sinai

Interdisciplinary artist Alma Sinai will introduce various printmaking techniques with materials such as nets, tape, bubble wrap, and sponges to paint eggs for the Sofreh Haft-seen. Children can explore creative ways of decorating their eggs with everyday materials from around the house.

List of materials:

Boiled eggs ready to be painted
Net bags for garlic, onions, or fruits as decorating nets
Two dishwashing sponges
Acrylic or gouache paint and a surface or palette on which to squeeze the paint before applying it on the eggs
Tape and scissors
Stickers (optional)
Two rubber bands
Bubble wrap
Paintbrushes
Glass of water for cleaning brushes
Paper towel
Fine-tip marker pens
Thick sheets of white paper (size A4)

2 p.m.

Shahnameh Storytelling with Puppets
Instructor: Bahar Beihaghi

We will learn about Nowruz through the interpretation of the epic poem Shahnameh using puppets and storytelling. The scene of angels carrying Jamshid’s throne will be recreated with simple materials. After we build the scene, the different characters in the longest poem written by a single poet come to life with a performance using puppets. Actor Bahar Beihaghi, also a founding member of Iranian/Iranian American theater company Peydah, leads the workshop.

List of materials:

Shoe box
Wrapping paper, preferably a simple light color
Paper cup
Glue
Paper tape
Pencils
Yellow and white sheets of paper
Color marker pens or crayons
The figures (download the PDF file)

2:30 p.m.

Sing and Draw a Nowruz Story
Instructor: Armin Antighechian

In this workshop led by illustrator, songwriter, and theater and film director Armin Antighechian, first we'll read the beautiful story Amū Nawrūz (Uncle Nowruz or Uncle New Year) written by Farideh Fardjam and illustrated by Farshid Mesghali. Then, we will sing Nowruz songs and draw Uncle Nowruz and the Haft-seen table from the story!

List of materials: