Sumac is traditionally included among the seven symbolic Haft-sin items for Nowruz.
Haft-sin is the decorated New Year display arranged by many Persian-speaking families. Its name refers to the Persian letter sin, and the display traditionally contains items whose names begin with that letter. Sumac, known in Persian as somāq, is included as a red spice and is often associated symbolically with sunrise and the color of dawn.
The exact contents of a Haft-sin table vary between households. Common items include sprouts, vinegar, apples, garlic, samanu, and sumac, although families may also add a mirror, candles, painted eggs, coins, poetry books, or a Qur’an. These additional objects are meaningful but are not all part of the seven sin items themselves.
Sumac is sometimes confused with saffron because both are well-known Persian ingredients. They are different: sumac is a tangy red spice made from dried berries, while saffron comes from the stigmas of a crocus flower and is not one of the standard seven Haft-sin items.