Happy Chaharshanbe Soori, Persian Festival of Fire

 

Chaharshanbe soori is one of the most favorite Iranian ancient festivals and its history dates back to more than two thousand years ago. The word “soor” in Chaharshanbe soori means fire and symbolizes red color which either can be referred to fire or red color of the face that shows healthiness.

This festival is also called a fire festival. It is customary that on the last Wednesday of the year, people gather together and make a big fire.

This festival begins on the sunset of the last Tuesday of the year and lasts up to the end of the night. It is believed that jumping over a fire brings fortune and takes away sickness and misfortune in the coming year. For this reason, people jump the fire and sing “sorxi-ye to az man, zardi-ye man az to”, literally meaning “[let] your ruddiness [be] mine, my paleness yours”. It is believed that fire cleans the body with its warmness. In fact, by commencing spring, ancient people made a big fire to last up to the morning and strengthen the sun.