Thanks for all your pings Cronos. Been very busy. Will read them over the w/end.
Here is a good website I came across about 3 yrs ago. Has some pics too. It covers Norooz as well as other Zoroastrian celebrations (compares how Moslem vs Zoroastrian Iranians celebrate Norooz). Tho, it isn’t as thorough as the book you’ve mentioned.
http://www.heritageinstitute.com/zoroastrianism/nowruz/nowruz3.htm#table_i
The Nowruz spread (sofreh in Persian) in Zoroastrian homes has seven (haft in Persian) items beginning with the letter "sh" or "sheen". Therefore it called a haft-sheen spread or table. The seven items are:
- Sharab or wine
- Shakar or sugar
- Shir or milk
- Shireh or syrup
- Shahd or honey
- Shirini or candy
- Shir-berenj or rice-pudding
The number seven represents:
- God and God's six abstract attributes or archangels.
- The seven aspects of temporal creation: fire, air, water, earth, plants, animals and human beings.
- The seven ethical concepts: a good mind and wisdom, truthfulness and righteous deeds, self-reliance and autonomy, peace and serenity, wholeness and excellence, perseverance and steadfastness.
- The seven acts of piety: generosity of the spirit and speaking well of others, material generosity and sharing, selfless help towards those in need, community participation and inclusion (through supporting the gahambars), honesty, piety, remembrance of the souls (specifically the fravashis) of the righteous and one's ancestors.
- The seven features of Nowruz: renewed and reaffirmed commitment to personal goals grounded in goodness, renewed energy and a positive cheerful disposition, renewed positive relationships, cleanliness and good health, honour and care for the environment, and preserving the eternal spiritual flame.