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. This book 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; Colouring 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.