To the Iranian culture, the first day of spring means more than blooming flowers and singing birds.

"The first day of spring symbolizes the new year, the beginning of new life," said Senzil Nawid, near eastern studies professor.

The holiday Char Shanbeh is celebrated the Wednesday before the new year and provides the opportunity for a new start.

"A (small) fire is made and everybody jumps over the fire to get rid of all their sins," said Sahba Rohani, undeclared freshman. "It's a chance for a new beginning."

Reza Mehramiz, teaching assistant for Nawid's elementary Persian language class, adds that "it's a chance to burn everything bad that happened during the past year and wish for a new start."

Nawid said the Persian culture, which includes Iran, Afghanistan and Central Asia, has been celebrating the holiday for over 5,000 years, according to legend. It was started by the first Orient King Jamshid to celebrate the beginning of spring. In Iran, the celebration lasts 13 days, during which people visit with relatives and take a break from work and school, she said.

The day of the new year is called Naw-Ruz. One tradition, Haft Sin, is celebrated on this day. Seven items beginning with the Persian letter "sin," close to the English "s," are placed on a table, each symbolizing different ideas. Seke (corn) symbolizes money; sabzi (greenery), prosperity; sip (apple), also prosperity; sir (garlic), good health; sammgh (sour berries), fun and happiness; sirka (vinegar), happiness in daily life; and sekeh (coin), wealth and profit in the new year.

The last day of the celebration is called Sizda Bedar. After this day, people go back to work and school and the holiday is over, Nawid said.

Rohani, who is enrolled in Nawid's class, attended a celebration yesterday in the Franklin Building for the start of the holiday. Iranian poetry and traditional food brought more than 20 people together to commemorate the holiday.

"I'm from a Persian background, and I've been celebrating since I was young," she said.

"It is important to have all the cultures unified, but I want to be able to keep my culture alive to pass on to my kids."