Chaharshanbe Suri Ritual
Iranian people have many customs and traditions with a civilization of thousands of years. As you know, these customs are not created overnight, but for many years, the customs of a people and nation form. Chaharshanbe Suri is one of the traditional Iranian festivals held on the eve of the last Wednesday of the solar year and before the arrival of Persian New Year (Nowruz) and includes various customs from setting fire and fireworks to eating nuts, family gatherings, spooning, etc. On this night, people hold a ceremony that goes back centuries to ward off evil and calamity and to fulfill their wishes.
They light big fires and jump over them. The custom of Chaharshanbe Suri derived from the ancient rituals of Iranians, which is still prevalent among them and in other forms among the survivors of the Aryan tribes. “Sur” in Persian language, literature, and in some Iranian dialects means “celebration,” “party,” And “red.” As stated in the history and customs of the Chaharshanbe Suri festival, before the arrival of Islam in Iran, every year had 12 months, each month had 30 days, each with a specific name, and after the arrival of Islam in Iran, they also added the week divisions. In ancient Iran, at every month’s end, it was customary to celebrate with the name of Sur (festival).
Jumping over fire
In the history and customs of the Chaharshanbe Suri celebration, the oldest and most beautiful tradition of the Chaharshanbe Suri celebration has been fire-setting. A few days before the last Wednesday of the year, people went to the mountains and the desert and collected firewood. Before the evening, people collected this firewood in the house yard, in the city square, on the street, or even in their garden, and they would put them in individual bundles at a distance from each other. Shortly after sunset, they would build a fire, jump over it and sing the song (your redness from Me, my yellowness from You). Jumping over fire is a way to dispose of negative energy, sickness, and problems and to receive fulfillment, warmth, and strength in return.
Fireworks
Today, this festival is slightly out of its traditional state, and people celebrate it differently. Everything is no longer just about setting fire and jumping over it. Fireworks give different views to the city streets. Illumination, lanterns, fireworks, and firecracker have caused Chaharshanbe Suri to take on a new form and be celebrated differently than in the past. Colorful fires and waterfalls of fire sparks are everywhere. Fireworks became popular in Iran during the time of Naser al-Din Shah done by the French.
Granting nuts (Ajeel)
Preparing and eating salted and sweet nuts is one of the delicious parts of Chaharshanbe Suri. These nuts, in addition to the main ingredients of salted nuts, peach leaves, apricots, green raisins, currants, basil, unroasted pistachios, almonds, and hazelnuts, also contain traditional candies and walnut kernels. When families sit together and talk warmly, eating nuts makes the atmosphere heartier and enjoyable.
Spoon Banging (Ghashogh Zani)
One of the other fascinating customs in the history of Chaharshanbe Suri is the custom of banging a spoon on a metal dish, popular in the old days. According to this custom, boys and girls cover their faces with a veil, go to their neighbor’s houses, and take nuts and sweets from them. The neighbors would fill their bowls with nuts and sweets.
Smashing The Pot (Koozeh Shekani)
In most cities of Iran, during Chaharshanbe Suri, they used to break the pots after jumping over the fire. This ritual was because people believed that bad luck goes into the jar, and breaking it results in getting rid of bad luck and misfortune. Some believe that this tradition had a health base. Since the clay pots were not glazed, they got dirty very quickly, and considering that they could not be washed and cleaned, they had to destroy. Ancient Iranians believed a clay pot should not stay in the house for more than a year, which has health origin, as mentioned.
Reciting Shahnameh
In Ferdowsi’s Shahnameh, there are references to a Wednesday night near Nowruz, which indicates the antiquity of this celebration. Reciting a poem from the Shahnameh on Chaharshanbe Suri around the fire is also one of the other customs performed by the family elders on this night. People who have a hand in music also perform with their instruments. They recite poems describing the coming of spring.
Burning Rue “Espand”
One of the oldest and most significant traditions of the Chaharshanbe Suri festival is the burning of rue or “Espand.” This tradition involves throwing rue and a small amount of salt on the fire while reciting rhymes to ward off the evil eye and negative energies, clearing the way for a fresh and new start in the coming year. The use of rue for spiritual and medical purposes has been common in Persian culture for centuries. In ancient times it was believed that the burning of rue could purify the air and protect us from various diseases. Even today, it is believed to have a range of healing properties.