Collaboration between Middle Eastern Culture Program and International Office Student

 

UConn Nowruz party organized by MECP

 

Nowruz is known as the Persian New Year celebration which begins on the spring equinox, the first month of the Iranian solar calendar.

The Haft-Sin table is an important part of Nowruz celebrations. This table is carefully set up with items, some of which will be shared with family and friends on the holiday.

A special cloth called a sofreh  is first placed on the table.

There are seven traditional (food) items that are arranged on it, including wheat, lentils or barley, flowers, dried fruit, garlic, apples and vinegar. Each item is a symbol of spring and renewal.

Live goldfish symbolizing new life are sometimes included on the table. Other items include eggs for fertility, coins for prosperity and a mirror for reflection.

This year, Middle Eastern Cultural Programs has collaborated with Iranian Cultural Organization and student association of Uconn to hold a Nowruz celebration at room#330-331, Student Union from 7:00 pm-10:00 pm. Due to the current COVID-19 restrictions in place, those interested in attending this event must register electronically through a link.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/nowruz-event-2022-uconn-tickets-262139826277

We have invited live Persian musicians and a singer as well as Persian dance group and DJ. We will also be serving Persian traditional food for our guests.

COVID_19 regulations, such as wearing a mask and social distancing, must be followed at all times during the event.

Do you enjoy meeting new people and learning about other cultures? If the answer is yes, then you may be a great fit for the MECP’s Cultural Ambassadors Program.

The MECP’s Cultural Ambassador Program seeks to foster cultural exchange at UConn by pairing Middle Eastern international students with US-born students. Ambassadors engage in cross-cultural mentoring that involves an ongoing, intentional, and mutually enriching relationship with someone of a different nationality, working together with other Ambassadors to organize events that highlight aspects of their respective culture and everyday experience.

Our MECP Cultural Ambassadors are a family. Together we watch movies, go grocery shopping, dissect American slang, grab dinner, and share tips and tricks. Click here to become an Ambassador today.

Yalda is the longest night of the year, and it has been celebrated in Iran, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan, and Armenia, among others, for thousands of years. Common traditions associated with Yalda include storytelling, reciting poetry, and eating pomegranates, watermelon, dried fruits, and nuts.

This year, Middle Eastern Cultural Programs has collaborated with the Iranian Cultural Organization of UConn to hold a Yalda celebration at the Biology/Physics building lobby on December 20 from 7 pm to 9 pm. Due to the current COVID-19 restrictions in place, those interested in attending this event must register electronically through a link.

https://uconntact.uconn.edu/event/7653477

COVID-19 regulations, such as wearing a mask and social distancing, must be followed at all times during the event.