Wedding Traditions: A Detailed Exploration

The Sofreh-ye Aghd is meticulously prepared, often occupying the central space of the ceremony, and contains dozens of items, each bearing significant religious or cultural meaning, symbolizing prosperity, fertility, protection, and sweetness. The spread is designed to face the direction of the sunrise, representing a bright future, and includes items like coins (sekkeh) for wealth, pomegranates and apples for a fruitful life, and a tray of seven spices (haft sin is reserved for Nowruz, but a similar spread of auspicious elements is used), signifying protection against the evil eye and the Earth’s generosity. The preparation of this intricate tableau is often a labor of love undertaken by the women of the bride’s family.