Charshanbe Souri

The evening of the last Wednesday prior to the last day of the year sees the start of the actual No Ruz ceremonies. This day is called Charshanbe Souri (“Red Wednesday”).

Qashoq zani

An event which is part of the charshanbe souri is when the children dress up in costumes and visit their neighbors. The usual costume is a chador, a body-covering veil-type outfit. The children carry an empty metal bowl and metal spoon. When they arrive at the neighbor’s house they bang on the bowl and on the door with the spoon. When the neighbor opens they door, they give the children a treat in their metal bowls. Then the children move on to the next house. The rule is that the children remain silent throughout the process.

Falgush

There is also the falgush for the teenage girls and unmarried young women. They huddle in corners of dark alleys and eavesdrop on the conversations of those passing by. The first sentence is important for it is an omen (“fal”) of future events. For example, if a young woman hoped to marry in the new year and overhead someone saying, “No sane person can say no to such an offer” she would be happy. Or, if she heard someone saying, “He never listens to anyone and just wants to travel the world alone” she would be unhappy.

Tup-i Morvari

A large cannon covered in pearls, called the tup-i morvari (pearl cannon), is kept at the Arg (citadel) of Iran. The women who want to marry in the new year climb the cannon and walk under it hoping their wish to marry will come true.

Pishvaz-i No Ruz

During charshanbe souri the family puts several coins of low-denomination called pul-i siyah, a piece of charcoal, some wild rue seeds, and a chunk of rock salt in a new earthen water jar. They then take it up to the roof and toss the contents out into the street. When the jar is being filled the person states, “ My pains and misfortunes into the jar!” When they throw the contents out they say, “My pains and misfortunes onto the street!” The items are believed to hold off any evil attempts to harm the family during the new year. Water is often added to help absorb more evil and to make it sink more deeply into the ground.

 In the early part of the evening, several large bonfires are built. The family gathers round and each member jumps over the fire. When they jump they say:

sorkhi-e to az man, zardi-e man az to!
{Give me your redness and take away my wintry sallow complexion}

After the jumping of the bonfire, the family gathers and fruits and nuts are served. This is mostly for the benefit of the children and long into the night many tales are told to them.

Once the fire dies out all the way, the ashes are gathered and buried in the fields. The ashes symbolize any bad luck the winter has brought. When the person returns from burying the ashes, they knock on the door and start a set dialogue as follows:

Those inside ask, “Who is it?”

"It is I," says the person returning.
"Where are you coming from?"
"From a wedding," is the response.
"What are you bringing with you?" is the last question.
"Happiness and mirth," is the response.

Then the door is opened and the person who buried the ashes can enter. They are seen as the herald of new life and also as the guardian who kept the evil eye and bad omens at bay.

Fire played a significant role in the early cultures of Iran. It is possible that the fire symbolizes signals sent to the spirits to lead them home so they can enjoy their descendants’ prayers. To make sure the fires were visible and distinct they were traditionally built on the house roofs.