I live in a neighborhood with lots of Iranian immigrants,
so I’ve developed a mental habit of assigning anything that
seems odd to my Ohio-kid eyes to some custom I don’t yet fully
understand.

This is how it’s possible to be an elevator with two
people carrying goldfish in plastic bags, and simply think to yourself,
amused and curious, “oh — must be something for New Year’s.”

Yep.  First day of spring.  As I understand it, this is sort of like American New Year’s Day and Thanksgiving rolled into one.  Lots of family and food and hope for the coming year.

So, since I
know of at least a few people originally from Iran who visit this site: eid-eh shoma mubarak, wa sad saal be in saalha.  I hope you
party like it’s 1385.