Noruz, beauty of the Iranian culture

By Amir in Swinburne on February 28th, 2009

Noruz in Persian language means “New Day”. It’s more than thousands of years that people of the Greater Iran have been celebrating the commencement of spring, the season of beauty and life as the beginning of their new year. Spring brings beauty, peace and defeats the coldness and darkness. Spring is when everyone would love to go out and see the earth, flowers and trees flourishing to start a new life for another year. Spring brings the message of hope and getting reborn, eliminating the coldness and darkness from inside our hearts and joining the nature in starting a new year of life, to enjoy all the beauties our Lord has offered us with his infinitive generousness.

Noruz marks the first day of spring and the beginning of the Iranian year. It is celebrated on the day of the astronomical vernal equinox (the start of spring in the northern hemisphere), which occurs on March 20. At the time of the equinox, the sun is observed to be directly over the equator and the north and south poles of the Earth lie along the solar terminator; sunlight is evenly divided between the north and south hemispheres.

During Noruz, Iranians set up a table, called “Haft Sin” meaning “Seven S”. Haft S?n (??? ???) or the seven ‘S’s is a major tradition of Noruz. The haft sin table includes seven specific items starting with the letter ‘S’ or S?n (?) in Persian alphabet. The items symbolically correspond to seven creations and holy immortals protecting them. Traditionally, families attempt to set as beautiful a Haft S?n table as they can, as it is not only of traditional and spiritual value, but also noticed by visitors during Noruzi visitations and is a reflection of their good taste.

• sabzeh – wheat, barley or lentil sprouts growing in a dish – symbolizing rebirth
  
• samanu – a sweet pudding made from wheat germ – symbolizing affluence
  
• senjed – the dried fruit of the oleaster tree – symbolizing love
  
• s?r – garlic – symbolizing medicine
  
• s?b – apples – symbolizing beauty and health
  
• somaq – sumac berries – symbolizing (the color of) sunrise
  
• serkeh – vinegar – symbolizing age and patience
  

As I mentioned above Noruz is celebrated in Greater Iran, Caucasus, Central Asia and by Iranians worldwide. It is a public holiday in: Iran, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kashmir, and Kyrgyzstan. Noruz is also celebrated by Kurds in Iraq and Turkey as well as by Parsis in India and Pakistan.

Iranian New Year, Noruz starts accurately on 20^th of March 2009 at 19:58′:58″ Kuala Lumpur time which is exactly when our Earth changes its position against Sun and the season of Spring starts in the northern hemisphere and that is why Iranian calendar is known as the world’s most accurate calendar.

This year, unlike the previous years, we will have Haft-Seen table in our school. We will set it up in the Lobby of block G and will be there from 16^th of March till 23^rd to distribute sweets among the students of this truly international university and also answer any of your questions.

See you there and happy New Year

It’s Valentine’s Day again…

By Lance in Celebration & Events on February 13th, 2009

Valentine's Day Teddy

It’s that time of the year again. Every where around the corner you can see red roses, chocolate, plushies and lovey-dovey couples. For those who are reading this, have you prepared something special for this particular day? Got a plan already? Decided on what to wear?

If you haven’t got anything, you can always pay a visit to those “Valentine’s Day-Only” stalls by the roadside, usually located near bus stops. Heard that they operate til midnight. Example :

A friend of mine told me that this celebration is also an awareness day, which is Single’s Awareness Day. Sadly, I’m also part of the awareness T_T

SWINBURNE SARAWAK STUDENT COUNCIL RECRUIMENT DRIVE 2009

By @lex in Swinburne on February 12th, 2009

Hey guys! The Swinburne Sarawak Student Council Recruitment Drive is back again!

For those who missed the last recruitment drive, here your chance again!

We are calling students who are interested to be members of the SSSC for 2009 term.

We need students who are willing to work with other student leaders to coordinate and organize activities for the benefit of the majority of students in Swinburne.

We are looking for 1 representative from all schools except SOLF, 1 representative from the Male and Female Hostel, 1 from each category of clubs (sports/recreation and academic) and 1 from the International Student Club.

If you have been in Swinburne for at least one semester and achieve a CGPA of 2.5 or above and you are of good conduct, please send in your CV to the following email:

cbiding@swinburne.edu.my

or

4182189@student.swinburne.edu.my

Closing date for submission of CV is Monday 30th March 2009.

Having trouble creating on of your own CV? feel free to reach us to ask : 4182189@student.swinburne.edu.my / highfantasy87@hotmail.com ( Alex Lim)

We are waiting for hear from you.