06:30 PM ยป
Chahrshanbeh soori party of Boston
The Norouz holiday season includes several symbolic and meaningful celebrations and rituals beginning with the last Wednesday of the year, called the Chahar Shanbe Soori (translation yields "Wednesday Feast"). It is celebrated on the eve of the last Wednesday of the year.
Fire:
At the center of this traditional celebration is giving thanks for the fortune of having made it through another healthy year and to exchange any remaining paleness and evil with the life and warmth of the fire. With the help of fire and light, enlightenment and happiness are hoped for throughout the coming year. Bonfires are lit in public places and people leap over the flames, shouting: "Sorkheeyeh toe az man; zardeeyeh man az toe." This translates to: "Your redness (health) is mine; my paleness (pain) is yours."
Trick or Treating:
Another routine of the Chahar Shanbe Soori festival is the Iranian version of Trick or Treating Traditionally, it was believed that the living were visited by the spirits of their ancestors on the last day of the year. Many people specially children, wrap themselves in shrouds symbolically reenacting the visits. By the light of the bonfire, they run through the streets banging on pots and pans with spoons in order to beat out the last unlucky Wednesday of the year, while they knock on doors to ask for treats. Indeed, Halloween is a Celtic variation of this night.
Nowadays, flocks of often young trick or treaters, hidden under a traditional Chador (veil) go from door to door banging a spoon against a metal bowl asking for treats, or money.
Falgoosh:
Another old Chahar Shanbe Soori ritual is called Falgoosh (fortune hearing!) which is the act of standing in a dark corner spot or behind a fence and listening to the conversations of the passers by and trying to interpret their statements or the subject of their dialogue as an answer to one's question(s)!
Dancing to the music of DJ Mori
Jumping over the Fire and other Chaharshanbeh Soori traditions
Fruits, Sweets, Chaharshnbeh Soori nuts (Ajeel)
Food available for purchase, prepared by Pita Kabob
When: Tuesday March 16, 2004 6:30 PM
Where: Hellenic Cultural Center, 25 Bigelaw Ave. Watertown MA
Tickets: IAB members and students: $12
Under 18 years of age: $10
Non-members : $15
Posted by 7rooz-sara () at March 16, 2004 6:30 PM
