The purpose of the Iranian Students’ Foundation (ISF) is to provide current and prospective members with the opportunity to meet others with similar interests and backgrounds. Our goal is to keep the rich Persian history and culture alive for both the descendents of Iran and for all those interested. The goal of the group also includes raising campus awareness about Persian culture, tradition, holidays, and history as well as modern-day Iran and issues facing Iranian-Americans. The ISF is a non-religious and non-political entity that was established at the University of Maryland-College Park in 1984. Currently, our active membership consists of over 100 members. In addition, the ISF tries to fulfill a service to the Iranian Community at the University of Maryland and support the Center for Persian Studies in all of their programs.
The ISF holds a general body meeting every Thursday and five major cultural events, not only for the students but for the community. Our first event is Mehregan, the celebration of the fall harvest. For the ISF members and the local Persian community, Mehregan is a time for Iranians to come together and celebrate the rich Persian culture. It has become a tradition to fill this evening with decorations, live music, poetry, a Persian dinner, and dancing.
Shab-e-Yalda, the longest night of the year, is the celebration of the Winter Solstice and our second event. Traditionally, Persians celebrate the beginning of the solar year by spending Shab-e-Yalda with their families sitting around the korsi-a table with a blanket draped over it and a heat lamp beneath-sharing stories, and eating fruit. We try to create this same environment for our guests. This event takes place in a more intimate setting with only 150 guests compared to the hundreds, or thousands that attend the others. The program for this night consists of poem readings in English and Persian, a play performed by members of the ISF, speeches about the significance of Shab-e-Yalda, a Persian dinner, and a traditional Persian dance.
The two remaining major events are Chahar Shanbeh Souri and Nowruz, our largest and most popular events. These two events are part of the Persian New Year celebrations.
For over 3000 years, Persian people have been celebrating the events of the Persian New Year including Chahar Shanbeh Souri and Nowruz. Chahar Shanbeh Souri, meaning the Eve of Red Wednesday, is traditionally celebrated on the last Tuesday night before the Persian New Year. Traditionally, children would go from door to door hitting a spoon against a pot in the hopes that a homeowner opens the door and gives them nuts and sweets, the equivalent of our “trick-or-treating”. The nuts and sweets bring good fortune in the coming year. Additionally, families jump over small fires while reciting a cleansing expression in order to cleanse themselves of their sins from the past year. Today, this celebration is held throughout Iran as well as amongst Iranians abroad wishing to bring communities together for a night of celebration, good fortune, and absolution.
New Year’s Day, which is called Nowruz (meaning new day), is the first day of spring. This is by far the most important Persian holiday and it plays a large role in every Iranian’s life. In the days leading up to the New Year, many preparations take place. One of these preparations is to buy new clothes to wear as the New Year is announced. Spring cleanings take place inside peoples’ homes, as does the setting of a table known as the “haft seen,” meaning seven seen (a letter in the Persian alphabet giving the sound of an “s”). On this table, seven items starting with the letter “seen” are placed and each symbolizes something special for the start of the New Year. In addition to the seens, eggs and goldfish are placed on the table to symbolize fertility and life, respectively. During this day, the entire family wears their brand new clothing and stands around the “haft seen” table as the New Year is announced. That night, a traditional New Year meal is prepared, fish with rice prepared with parsley and dill. During the New Year celebration, the older members in the family give the children presents, usually money, as their new year’s gift. For over ten years now, the Iranian Students’ Foundation has been holding these events, which have grown into the largest Persian events thrown in the area.
Our Nowruz event, held at the Grand Ballroom, will be hosting over 500 people.
The ISF has created a program packed with live musical performances, poetry readings, speeches, the traditional Persian meal of fish with rice prepared with parsley and dill, and modern and traditional Persian dances. This event gives the Persian community and all those interested in attending an opportunity to come together and spend a night with family and friends in order to learn more about our culture and history.
Last year, our Chahar Shanbeh Souri event hosted over 3000 people at the Maryland SoccerPlex. At this event, a live band or DJ plays music to create an enjoyable atmosphere while people are jumping over the fires. We also serve a Persian sandwich, soup, and tea. It is a great event for families to attend and enjoy especially since it is free.
We have a moon bounce and will be face painting throughout the night to make it a very enjoyable experience for all members of the family.
Iranian awareness week is our last major event. It is a week filled with different activities focused on raising campus awareness about Iran. On the Thursday of that week we hold a “Tour of Persia” on Hornbake Mall. On this day, we set up tables about different aspects of Persian culture so all those passing through Hornbake Mall can learn about Iran and the rich Persian culture.
The ISF has become a very large and well-known organization in the Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. area.
We at the ISF strive to provide all aspects of Iranian culture for those who want to learn by holding these events and weekly general body meetings.