The Cupertino Courier

Local book illustrates the Persian New Year

By Pam Marino

Six local children, a De Anza College student and a Cupertino teacher and artist have created what they believe is the first English-language book about an ancient Persian celebration.

My First Nowruz is a fictional story that chronicles the first time an 8-year-old girl celebrates the Persian New Year. Dokie Riahi Kahani, a 19-year-old De Anza College student, wrote the story, and six children, ranging in age from 6 to 9, drew colorful pictures to illustrate it.

The book was the result of a class taught by Fariba Nejat at the Payvand Cultural School, which teaches Farsi, an Iranian language, and other aspects of Iranian culture. The school meets on Sundays on the De Anza College campus. Nejat said the word payvand means "bonding together."

The slick, colorful 16-page book has drawn interest from the Cupertino Union School District, which purchased copies and may use it in its schools in the future as a learning tool in teaching about different cultures. Others have also expressed an interest in the book.

Nejat said it was an idea from Danni Tsai, the school district's diversity coordinator, that inspired the book. Tsai pointed out to Nejat that there were no English-language books for children about the Iranian culture.

Nejat decided to teach a book-publishing class for children, and she asked Kahani, a young writer and artist, to help. Nejat said she did not start with a specific idea for the book because she wanted the children to create it. "I just left it up to them to see what would happen," Nejat said.

From there they decided to do the book about the Persian New Year, a 13-day celebration that starts at the moment of the spring equinox on either March 20, 21 or 22.

Both Nejat and Kahani said they wanted to do the book to help teach children of Iranian descent in this country something about their own culture. They said many of the children are becoming cut off from their cultural roots.

"Right now I see a lot of Iranian kids my age, and they can barely speak Farsi," Kahani said. "They are being robbed of their culture. ... In this way they can at least read about it; they can at least get part of their culture back."

Nejat said the Persian New Year is a nonreligious celebration that has been enjoyed by Iranians for centuries. Some of the elements of the celebration mirror recognizable traditions in American culture, such as a type of trick-or-treat similar to Halloween; serving fish each year, just as turkey is served each Thanksgiving; and picnicking, much like what Americans do on the Fourth of July.

Before the celebration begins, Iranian families clean their homes, buy new clothes and prepare special foods that symbolize the rebirth and renewal of spring. During the celebration, families and friends visit and call one another, and any broken relationships can be forgiven and renewed.

Nejat said it was a tough task to explain all the elements of the intricate celebration. Kahani decided to solve that challenge by writing the book as if it were the day-to-day diary of a young girl.

In the class the six children created dozens of pictures, which Nejat narrowed down to six for the book, five inside and one on the back cover.

The children who drew the pictures are Setareh Derakhshandeh, 8, Shirene Derakhshandeh, 9, Lalia Ghazanfarpour, 6, Parisa Ghazanfarpour, 9, Roya Vahdatinia, 7, and Nejat's daughter Roxanna, 9.

Nejat, an artist, created a colorful border to frame each of the pictures on each page and on the cover of the book.

The book was self-published, using donations from various sources. The Iranian Federated Women's Club, of which Nejat is current president, donated some money, and lots of individuals pitched in, she said. "Little, little donations make things happen. They give you a little hope," she said. A total of 1,000 books, at a cost of $5 each, were printed.

The Payvand School is now selling the books for $8 each. Nejat said the profits will be used to create more books in the future, which may teach about the numerous cultures of Iran. She said the next book may be about various folk dances or about Iranian costumes.

Nejat said others have suggested turning the book idea into a business, but she said business is not the school's goal: Carrying on centuries-old traditions and being proud of one's background is.

[ Back to Contents Page | Cupertino Courier Home Page | Archives ]