Persian New Year is on its way.
Tonight, the festival of fire (Chaharshanbeh=Wednesday, suri=red) arrives. It's an excuse or reason for celebration and a firework party to get into the New Year’s spirit as tomorrow will be the last Wednesday (Chaharshanbeh) of the year. However, the celebration happens at the night before that (i.e. the last Tuesday night of the year). According to Price (1), Wednesday in Islamic tradition represented a bad omen day with unpleasant consequences. This is contrary to Zoroastrian cosmology where all days were sacred and named after a major deity. By celebrating in this manner Iranians were able to preserve the ancient tradition. The festival is celebrated on Tuesday night to make sure all bad spirits are chased away and Wednesday will pass uneventfully."
Celebrating Chaharshanbeh suri, for a lot of Iranians today, represents efforts to keep their tradition alive; particularly in a society where festivals other than religious ones are considered redundant.
The main ceremonies for this night:
- Jumping over flames: People do that whilst shouting; 'sorkhie tu az man, zardieh man az tu', wishing for the red of fire (representing health) in exchange for their yellow colour (representing illness). In the olden days fire was made in fireplaces also, wishing for the warmth to stay in the house throughout the coming year. The ashes were then scattered in the water, taking away the bad luck. (2)
- ajil moshkel gosha (ajil=mixed nuts, moshkel=problem, ghosha=solving):
People eat mixed nuts and dried fruits, they also offered that to others. Ajil moshgel gosha consists of "pistachios, roasted chic peas, almond, hazelnuts, figs, apricots, and raisins. Local variations apply and the mixture is different according to the location and the group celebrating it."(1)
- ghashogh zani (ghashogh=spoon, zani=banging): People (usually covering their faces) banging on pans with spoons to get rid of bad luck and knocking on doors (somewhat similar to ‘trick or treat’ custom in Halloween) their pans is usually filled with eatables, in particular mixed nuts.
- fal gosh (fal=fortune, gosh=listening): People tend to make a wish, and then stand in the street ear dropping to hear the conversation of passer-bys. If there is anything positive and optimistic in the conversation, they belief that their wish will come true or there is good fortune to be expected. (1)
There are some variations in the way that people celebrate Chaharshanbeh suri locally. In some areas of Iran, for example, people jump over flames with a jug of water and then throw the water in the air, hoping for a prosperous year. (2)
Whether or not you celebrate Persian New Year, have fun today and happy Chaharshanbeh suri!
References:
(1) http://www.iranonline.com/festivals/Chahar-shanbaeh-sori-english/index.html
(2) http://www.mardomak.org/news/chaharshanbe_souri_86/
Tonight, the festival of fire (Chaharshanbeh=Wednesday, suri=red) arrives. It's an excuse or reason for celebration and a firework party to get into the New Year’s spirit as tomorrow will be the last Wednesday (Chaharshanbeh) of the year. However, the celebration happens at the night before that (i.e. the last Tuesday night of the year). According to Price (1), Wednesday in Islamic tradition represented a bad omen day with unpleasant consequences. This is contrary to Zoroastrian cosmology where all days were sacred and named after a major deity. By celebrating in this manner Iranians were able to preserve the ancient tradition. The festival is celebrated on Tuesday night to make sure all bad spirits are chased away and Wednesday will pass uneventfully."
Celebrating Chaharshanbeh suri, for a lot of Iranians today, represents efforts to keep their tradition alive; particularly in a society where festivals other than religious ones are considered redundant.
The main ceremonies for this night:
- Jumping over flames: People do that whilst shouting; 'sorkhie tu az man, zardieh man az tu', wishing for the red of fire (representing health) in exchange for their yellow colour (representing illness). In the olden days fire was made in fireplaces also, wishing for the warmth to stay in the house throughout the coming year. The ashes were then scattered in the water, taking away the bad luck. (2)
- ajil moshkel gosha (ajil=mixed nuts, moshkel=problem, ghosha=solving):
People eat mixed nuts and dried fruits, they also offered that to others. Ajil moshgel gosha consists of "pistachios, roasted chic peas, almond, hazelnuts, figs, apricots, and raisins. Local variations apply and the mixture is different according to the location and the group celebrating it."(1)
- ghashogh zani (ghashogh=spoon, zani=banging): People (usually covering their faces) banging on pans with spoons to get rid of bad luck and knocking on doors (somewhat similar to ‘trick or treat’ custom in Halloween) their pans is usually filled with eatables, in particular mixed nuts.
- fal gosh (fal=fortune, gosh=listening): People tend to make a wish, and then stand in the street ear dropping to hear the conversation of passer-bys. If there is anything positive and optimistic in the conversation, they belief that their wish will come true or there is good fortune to be expected. (1)
There are some variations in the way that people celebrate Chaharshanbeh suri locally. In some areas of Iran, for example, people jump over flames with a jug of water and then throw the water in the air, hoping for a prosperous year. (2)
Whether or not you celebrate Persian New Year, have fun today and happy Chaharshanbeh suri!
References:
(1) http://www.iranonline.com/festivals/Chahar-shanbaeh-sori-english/index.html
(2) http://www.mardomak.org/news/chaharshanbe_souri_86/
