Nowruz Senjeb Banner {Tutorial}

March 20, 2018January 26, 2021 acraftyarab Craft tutorial

Today is the first day of spring, but to Iranians everywhere, it was Nowrūz, the Persian New Year. It is celebrated on the day of the astronomical vernal equinox, this year at 9:15am, March 30th, 2018.

Nowruz is celebrated by some in the form of a Haft Sin (or seven s’s) traditional table in their home. This table includes seven specific items starting with the letter ‘S’ or Sīn (س) in the Persian alphabet. Items include:

sabzeh – wheat, barley or lentil sprouts growing in a dish – symbolizing rebirth
samanu – a sweet pudding made from wheat germ – symbolizing affluence
senjed – the dried fruit of the oleaster tree – symbolizing love
sīr – garlic – symbolizing medicine
sīb – apples – symbolizing beauty and health
somaq – sumac berries – symbolizing (the color of) sunrise
serkeh – vinegar – symbolizing age and patience.

As we’ve made two of the items for a half seen table, I thought I would try to make something to symbolize the senjeb, or olives.

Supplies

Felt
Ribbon
Scissors
Thread
Needle
Black or brown pom poms
Hot glue gun/hot glue

I cut the felt into stripes and then cut a long leaf shape from the end.

I then repeated that about 300 more times.

Once I had enough leaves, I started sewing them onto the ribbon.

Since I was using a thin ribbon, I tied to keep my stitches in the middle.

I placed the next leaf over the last and sew it on, overlapping to hid the ribbon.

I kept adding more and more leaves until my banner was the length I liked.

To make the olives out of the pom pom shapes, I rotated the round balls in one direction, taking a little off with each turn.

I add the olives with the hot glue.

I tried to place the olives in a staggered manner along the entire banner.

I cut off any hot glue strings and my senjeb banner is ready to enjoy. I can tie it between two candle stems on top of the table, or pin it around the table edges to make a nice skirt.