Winter 2006 (14.4)
Pages 19-21

Celebrating Spring
How to Grow "Samani" for Novruz
PDF Format - 600 KB

Introduction by Kathleen Shryock

by Rachel and Lucas Shryock

Day 1 - Getting Started
If you want to celebrate spring in Azerbaijan, here is what to do.
Make "samani".

Find a pretty plate.
Cover it with one, thick, single layer of seeds.

Wheat or lentils both grow very well.
But don't mix them. Choose one or the other.
Water the seeds and cover them with a wet paper towel.

Place the plate in a place where the seeds will get sunlight - a place where it is warm and bright. Then wait for the "samani" to start growing.

Day 2
Check your seeds three or four times a day to make sure that the paper towel is always damp. This is like homework. You always have to remember to do it. Don't let the seeds get dry.

Day 4
The seeds are already starting to grow. When the green sprouts are about one fourth of an inch high or as long as your fingernail, take off the paper towel so that the wheat can grow even taller.

Make sure the seeds have plenty of sun and water. Wait some more.



Day 5
The "samani" is already one inch tall. It is growing fast now. Check for water and sun.

Don't let your cats get too close. They might want to eat the grass!

Day 6
Keep checking the seeds to make sure they have water and sun. Watch and keep waiting.

Day 7
The wheat grass is four inches tall. Awesome! It's growing so fast right in front of our eyes!



Above: The Samani is ready! Kathleen Shryock with her children, Lucas and Rachel with the red ribbon tied around the "samani".

Day 10
The wheat grass is now at least six inches tall. It's ready to decorate.

Now tie a bright-colored ribbon around your "samani".

We picked red for Azerbaijan. They use red, too. Now place the "samani" in the middle of your table to celebrate the coming of Spring! Happy First Day of Spring!
____

Back to Index AI 14.4 (Winter 2006)

AI Home | Search | Magazine Choice | Topics | AI Store | Contact us

Other Web sites created by Azerbaijan International
AZgallery.org | AZERI.org | HAJIBEYOV.com