Spring welcomed by ‘ancient fire and love’

Millions around the world welcome the new season every year with timeless cultural traditions that they believe will bring them glad tidings.

Spring, the happy season of renewed life, unfolds this weekend as the planet passes through the vernal equinox, with millions of people across the world from different cultures welcoming it in their own way.

Some with spring cleaning, some with songs and dance, and others with traditions that have lasted for thousands of years and are embroidered in timeless legends and myths.

Poised for a jump, Nasim Yazdani chants an ancient purification call and leaps over fire.

“Sorkhie to az man va zardie man az to!” asking the fire to give the jumper its healthy red color and take away the jumper’s sickly yellow pallor.

“This way you will have good health for a whole year,” says the Emirati, who regularly celebrates her Iranian roots by holding traditional Persian festivals at her home.

With piles of wood burning inside barbecue plate-like stands on the floor, Mrs Yazdani and her friends jumped over fire around sunset celebrating Chaharshanbeh Soori or Suri, where Chahar Shanbeh means Wednesday and Suri means red.

It takes place on the eve of the last Wednesday of the year (Tuesday night), a prelude to the bigger Norouz celebration.

“It means new day, and it welcomes spring and celebrates the beginning of a new year,” says the mother of two, living in Dubai.

For more than 3,000 years, Norouz, which is spelled various ways, including Novruz, Nowrouz and Nevruz has been celebrated across a vast geographical area covering, inter alia, Azerbaijan, India, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Turkey and Uzbekistan.

Celebrated on 21 March, a date originally set by astronomical calculations, Norouz is tied to various legends, such as that of King Jamshid, a mythological king of Iran, from the first dynasty of Aryan people.

It is said that this king, who is credited with building of Persepolis, had fought the dark and overwhelming winter, and when he had won, spring was born.

Others tie it to the Zoroastrian religion, one of the world’s oldest monotheistic religions, founded by Prophet Zoroaster in ancient Iran approximately 3500 years ago. Zoroastrians are not fire-worshippers but rather believe that the elements are pure and that fire represents God’s light or wisdom. Besides the Zoroastrians, versions of Norouz is celebrated by Sufis, Ismailis, Alawites, and Baha’is.

“Its origin is not clear but its beautiful purpose is,” says Mrs Yazdani, who is a businesswoman with her trading company, Allstar.

“Norouz is a time to gather, remove all the negativity and sadness collected over the year, and start fresh, full of love, positivity and hope.”

Her son, Adnan, joined in the festivities and jumped the highest of the crowd.

“There is a very different side to Iran that most don’t see outside the daily news, such as its deep history, its various cultural traditions and its many bright happy festivals,” said the Emirati lawyer.

“The fact that many different cultures come to the UAE and can celebrate their heritage is what makes this place unique,” he said, who enjoys celebrating all the different national festivals as well as those related to his mother’s heritage.

“All holidays are about family and friends, and that is what makes them special.”

Norouz has been celebrated in the UAE for many years, both at home, and in public places like the Iranian Club, the parks, hotels, and restaurants preparing special food related to occasion.

In 2009, Norouz was inscribed on Unesco’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, and then in 2010, the UN General Assembly recognized the International Day of Nowruz on March 21.

“Norouz promotes the values of peace and solidarity between generations and within families, as well as reconciliation and neighbourliness, thus contributing to cultural diversity and friendship among peoples and various communities,” is stated on Unesco site.

Besides fire-jumping rituals, there a special table that is set on this occasion, known as “sofreh-e haft sin” which means the table of the seven s’s or items that start with the Farsi letter of S or “seen” as it is pronounced.

“Each item has a special meaning, related to rebirth, reflection, health, prosperity and wealth,” explains Ms Yazdani, who had set up her own special table where instead of a gold fish, she had placed an apple in water to symbolize life and health.

“I don’t want to risk the fish’s life,” she says with a smile, where the gold fish swimming in water represents life within life.

Some of the items on her table include a mirror (symbolising cleanliness and honesty), candles (enlightenment and happiness), coins (wealth), garlic (health), vinegar (age and patience), Sonbol or Hyacinth plant (life), Samanu (a sweet traditional pudding made from germinated wheat that symbolizes affluence) and Sabzeh (freshly sprouting plants of lentil, barely or wheat growing in a dish related to rebirth).

Part of the rituals involve later throwing the newly-grown spurting plants in water, be it a lake, pond or sea.

Some other interesting items include sumac, symbolizing sunrise as well as decorated painted over eggs for each member of the family.

“It could be that this tradition has passed onto the west and became Easter eggs,” she said.

Other traditions known as Chaharshanbe Suri Ajil, where Ajil or Ajeel means mixed nuts and berries, where people wear disguises and go around the neighbourhood knocking on doors for treats, similar to trick or treating. Instead of sweets, they get the healthier treats Ajeel.

“Different phases have left different items on the table, for instance, there is always a holy book included, so some people put the Quran now on the table, while others put their own holy books or a book of poems, like Diwan Hafiz,” she said, adding how for instance instead of vinegar, some put wine.

“There are many stories and many beliefs. The family sits around the table and we pay special respect to the elders and reconnect with all our loved ones.”

With new year set at 2:45am on Saturday March 21, celebrations continue for 13 days after.

March 21 is also Mother’s Day in the Arab world, with possible links to welcoming spring related to mother nature and honouring her.

While there are many traditions and many celebrations related to seasons besides Norouz, keeping them alive is one of the things Mrs Yazdani does regularly.

“I want the world to see a different kind of Iran. Its ancient Persian past and its many customs from the different races and religions and tribes that live there,” she said, wishing everyone a Happy Norouz.

rghazal@thenational.ae