On the first day of spring in Iran, it is the movement of an egg on a mirror that tells the watchers the new year has begun.
According to a time-honored Persian legend, the earth’s axis turns on one horn of a giant bull. Once a year, on the spring equinox, the bull tosses its burden from one horn to the other so deftly that the shift can be observed only by watching the delicate movements of a highly sensitive egg on a polished, slippery surface.
Members of the family gather around to watch Now Ruz begin; everyone knows at exactly what moment spring begins. If the egg does not oblige its audience by moving at the proper time, an adult may tap a finger on the underside of the table to induce it so the children will not be disappointed.
In 2015, the egg will move at precisely 10 seconds after 6:45 p.m. Eastern Time, Friday, March 20. That will be one hour earlier for Central Time, two hours earlier for Mountain Time and three hours earlier or 10 seconds after 3:45 p.m. in the Pacific Time zone. The time in Tehran will be 2:15:10 a.m. on Saturday.