An Iranian Ceremony(The Last Wednesday of Year)

چهارشنبه سوری

Wednesday Soori Celebration is the name of an ancient celebration from 1700 BC in Iran. Originally this ceremony was to last 5 days in each Iranian year. But now it is on the last Wednesday of each year.

Wednesday Soori consists of two words, Wednesday and Soori .  Soori means red. When someone is jumping over the fire he reads “سرخی تو از من زردی من از تو”. In fact it represents catharsis (cleaning from bad things). That means you want the fire rid your diseases and problems (yellow) and give you energy, healthy and warmth (red).

This celebration isn't religious.

Some ritual Soori are:

1.  New Year, new jar
2.  آجیل مشکل گشا (problem solving nuts)
3. (قاشق زنی)Ghashoghzani

1-      In the past, Iranians would drop old clay jars from the roofs of their house. They believe that the problems passed away in the New Year. Of course, nobody does that now.

2-      In the past, people used to roast watermelon seeds, pistachios, hazelnuts, almonds, wheat and hemp over the fire that night. The nuts were the last of the winter storage. Nowadays, Iranians buy the مشکل گشا  nuts (problem solving nuts).

3-      Another tradition is Ghashoghzani (قاشق زنی ).The young boys and girls hide themselves below the stuff and go in front of their neighbours's house. They hit to bowl with spoon. The neighbour comes out and gives chocolate, nuts or money to them.