March 20, the first day of spring, is the first day of the Persian New Year.

March 20, the first day of spring, is the first day of the Persian New Year.

The central theme of the Persian New Year — Norooz, literally meaning New Day — is rebirth.

One of its beautiful traditions is to grow your own grass — out of wheat, or lentils, or any other type of grain.

With little water and sunlight, what seemed to be dead before — hard, like a rock — sprouts into beautiful life: green, serene, alive.

Will write more about our traditions as we approach the new year.

If you have colleagues who celebrate, you can say “Happy Norooz,” or “Norooz Mobaarak!”