As the UN Security Council moved closer to acting against Tehran over its nuclear program, Iranians were trying to forget the crisis as they busily prepared for two weeks of New Year celebrations.

An Iranian woman attends weekly prayers while holding up portraits of Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (L) and hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. As the UN Security Council moved closer to acting against Tehran over its nuclear program, Iranians were trying to forget the crisis as they busily prepared for two weeks of New Year celebrations. [AFP]

Iran marks Noruz on Monday, the same day as the five permanent members of the Security Council plus Germany are to work on reaching agreement on a long-term strategy aimed at convincing Iran to abandon sensitive uranium enrichment.

Although Iranians admit some concern about the future under possible UN sanctions, most are burying their worries in traditional customs -- purchasing fruits, cakes and new clothes, cleaning their homes and decorating eggs.

"For the moment, we must prepare for Noruz," said Mahin, a janitor in his 50s who was waiting in a pastry shop to purchase sweets.

"But I am very worried about the Security Council deciding on sanctions," he said.

"I am expecting a very hard year," added Ahmed, a young doctor.

Noruz, traditionally a pagan festival but which continues to be the biggest holiday in the conservative Islamic republic, begins with a festival of fire.

Marking the ceremonial end of winter, people build large bonfires and then jump over the blazes to cleanse themselves.

Families clean house and prepare "Haft-Sin" by collecting seven objects that begin with the letter "S" in the Persian alphabet and which symbolize a particular good luck charm relating to the family's well-being over the coming year.

Often these items will include apples, pieces of gold, homegrown herbs, colored eggs, red fish, mirrors, candles, the Koran and a book of poetry by the Iranian poet Hafez -- all of which are placed on a table in the house.

Dressed in new clothes, families then gather around this table to mark the official passing of the New Year at exactly 9:55 pm and 36 seconds.

The country largely grinds to a halt for two weeks, the duration of the festivities. All daily newspapers stop publishing, with the exception of the government daily Iran which puts out four issues.

Corresponding with Noruz this year, largely Shiite Iran will also mark the holy festival of Arbayeen commemorating the 40th day of mourning after the death of Imam Hussein, the Prophet Mohammed's grandson, 14 centuries ago.

The New Year holiday ends with the festival of nature, "Sizda-Bedar," on April 1 when Iranians take picnic lunches outdoors to reunite with nature.

And by that time, the Security Council is likely to have decided on measures aimed at containing the Iran's nuclear drive which the West believes is a cover for weapons development.

Iran has insisted that its program exists for civilian energy purposes and has vowed not to give up sensitive uranium enrichment activities.