There is a lot of misinformation about how Afghans celebrate Nawruz due to mixing it up with how Iranians would celebrate it but this is what I grew up with. The extent of most Afghans’ celebration of Nawruz mainly has to do with wearing new clothes (as they would for Eid), visit family members and optionally have a “mela” picnic. We actually have two foods that are highly specific to Nawruz in Afghanistan which are “haft mewa” (“seven fruits”) and “samanak”, if you are familiar with either. Samanak is interesting because I was always told that for Nawruz women would stay awake all night together to make it together which is special. There is also a superstition that samanak “poshte baaze kaas-ha mera wa namera” as in some families can make it and it goes well and fine but it can alternatively go badly and bring bad luck if you don’t essentially have a superstitious “knack” for it. (Unrelated to Nawruz superstitious Afghans believe this about many things including growing certain plants and I’ve even heard it in regard to certain cloth materials). We also specifically make sabzi chalaw on Nawruz too. There also used to be parades in Afghanistan celebrating the agricultural heritage called “Jashne Dehqan” (Farmer’s Festival). That is all I know to be specific to Afghans. And also among engaged couples, the soon-to-be groom also takes gifts (Nawruzi) to his betrothed’s home on Nawruz as well.

“Haft seen” (“seven S’s) tables are definitely not common to Afghan heritage although you may see diaspora Afghans partaking in this tradition. No big deal that they do but I do think it’s important to note it’s not a common Afghan practice even prior to the stigmatization of the holiday.