Iranians celebrate chaharshanbeh souri

Similar to other years, Iranians all across the country celebrate the ancient Persian tradition of Last-Wednesday-of-the-Year Fireworks (Chaharshanbeh Souri) tonight as a prelude to Nowruz (the start of the new year). On the evening of Chaharshanbeh Souri, people make fires and jump over them. Chaharshanbeh Souri is an ancient Iranian fire festival dating back to at least 1700 BCE of the early Zoroastrian era. The festival marks the arrival of spring and revival of nature. Chahar Shanbeh literary means Wednesday and Souri means 'Red' and 'Celebration'. The red celebration on the last Wednesday of the solar year is welcomed always and forever among Iranians. Chahrshanbeh Souri, is celebrated on the last Tuesday evening of the year in the Iranian calendar. People lit fires at the sunset and the idea is to not let the sun set. They are supposed to keep the sun alive till the early hours of the morning. On Tuesday evening, people go out, make fires and jump over it singing the traditional song of: Sorkhi-ye to az man Zardi-ye man az to It is literally translated as: Your burning red color shall be mine, My sickly yellow paleness shall be yours. Simply interpreted, it means you want the fire to take your paleness, sickness and problems; In return, the fire will give you its redness, warmth and energy. Special Chaharshanbeh Souri Nuts, made up of raw nuts, brings sweet taste to the warm celebration observed in every Iranian home.