Haft Sin's most outstanding item is "Sabzeh" (the green sprouts of wheat, barley or lentil) which symbolizes rebirth and usually is beatified with a strip of red ribbon, while an orange may be placed atop. A glittering red or yellow "Seeb"(apple) is the second and stands for beauty and good health. "Samanu", kind of a sweet pudding or custard, is the next article symbolizing affluence. The following item stands for love and is called "Senjed", fruit of the oleaster or lotus tree. The forth one is "Seer" (garlic) and is the representative of medicine on the spread. Then there exists sumac berries, "Somaq", which epitomizes the color of the sunrise. And as the last article "Serkeh"(vinegar) epitomizes patience and age. 

Different families or ethnicities may substitute some of the mentioned seven items with something else but those mostly accepted pieces were as enumerated. There also some articles whose initial is not "S", but count with the items of "Sofreye Haft-Sin". A book, preferably a religious one, an upright mirror, burning candles, colored eggs (as the Easter eggs), a bowl of water with an orange floating in, a bowl of water with a gold fish within, Iranian sweetmeats, confectioneries, different fruits, traditional Iranian pastries such as baghlava, "aajeel" (dried nuts, berries and raisins) which is another important component of the whole Nowruz festival, and the national colors of Iran. 

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Nowruz has its own particular dishes, too. "Sabzi-Polo Mahi", rice with green herbs and fish, is served on the night just preceding Nowruz, or on the same Nowruz day. On the next day "Reshte Polo", rice cooked with noodles is prepared. "Koku Sabzi" is served for the dinner and is made out of herbs and vegetable soufflé. On the last "Shab-e-Jom'e" -the eve of Friday- prior to Nowruz, "Polo" and "chicken" are served for supper. 

Nowruz begins with "Saal Tahvil", which can be translated as year delivery. It is the very first instant in the New Year; the exact moment of the spring equinox. Everybody in the family, dressed up in his or her new clothes, gathers around the Haft Sin spread looking forward to "Saal Tahvil". As the countdown ushers in the New Year, the members of the family, rejoicing, cheer up, hug and kiss each other, and exchange Nowruz greetings, "Eid-e Shoma mobarak!" or "Sal-e No Mobarak" (Happy New Year). Now everyone, especially the children and the youth, moves on to make the rounds of the elders of the family first, then the rest of their family and finally their friends and the neighborhood. Adults, too, have a set schedule of visits and receiving visitors. 

This custom that first the young call on the elder demonstrates the respect that Iranians pay to the aged people. Visits are short, so that a typical visit takes one about 30 minutes. "Eidi", new-year gift, is another characteristic feature of Nowruz. Within the family, it is the duty of the head of the household to grant the Eidi to the members of the family, the same can be true of the visitors as well. Of course, in the case of visitors only those who are considered younger, or lower in rank, would receive "Eidi". It is to be mentioned that the young visitors do not bring any gifs with them, and may only receive a gift. The rounds of visitations might last as long as twelve days, up to the day of "Sizdah Bedar". 

Among all Persian ancient ceremonies, Nowruz with its different aspects in every region of the country has got no more real, fresher and deeper peer. Nowruz repeats and renews everything, generates and revives the nature and influences Iranian creative soul, emotion and thought.