Here are the FAQs:

1. What is chahAr shanbeh suri?
2. When does it take place?
3. Why do you jump over fire?
4. What do you chant as you jump over the fire?
5. What are the folks back in Iran doing these days with it?
6. chahAr shanbe suri links.

1. What is chahAr shanbeh suri?

Let's break down the word. A suri is kind of like a "soiree", a big party. And chahAr shanbeh is, of course, a date on which this specific party takes place. It is done in the outdoors, because you have to light these fires, see. And then thousands of screaming Iranians leap over the fires, chanting. Some of the kids also do "qAshoq zani" on this night, "spoon beating", where wild youths covered in chadors go from house to house beating metal pots with wooden spoons and demanding the pots to be filled with candy or money. It's like "trick or treat."

2. When does it take place?

The eve of the last Wednesday of the old year, of course. Iranian New Years is the moment of the Spring Equinox/first day of spring, usually March 19 or 20. Whatever day that falls on, check in your calendar for the Wednesday before and on the eve of that day, jump over fire. [For more observations on Iranian date and time, click here.]

Remember. The EVE. Which means that even though they call this a "Wednesday Soiree" and you've got the word Wednesday in your head, it takes place on a TUESDAY. Just like Shabeh Jomeh takes place on a Thursday night, even though it says "night of Friday." This isn't the only event that takes place on the eve of the day they tell you. So always double check the date of an event or you will miss it. I was so proud to learn the days of the week, but this eve thing always threw me. Finally, this year, Dad cleared it up for me.

Daddy says this is based on the way that people kept track of days and time in the old days. In post-electric societies, we consider one day to end and the next one to begin at MIDNIGHT. In the old days in Iran, one day ended and the next one began AT SUNDOWN.

So, in fact, Tuesday evening IS Wednesday night. Because the night comes first. And then the day.

THIS EXPLANATION THRILLS ME. I don't know why. It's a paradigm shift. Suddenly it's obvious that it's all so arbitrary. Why do we say the day starts or ends at midnight? It's also logical for it to start or end at a sunrise or sunset. The advantage to having it change at midnight is that most sensible people are supposed to be asleep. Thus they aren't conscious of when the change happens. Which is good because you're less confused when you're not conscious...

Days of the Week "chahAr shanbeh" means Wednesday. Most days of the week have the word "shanbeh" in them, plus a number:

• "shanbeh" is "saturday"
• "yek shanbeh" (one [+] Saturday) is Sunday,
• "do shanbeh" (2+Saturday) is Monday,
• "seh shanbeh" (3+Saturday) is Tuesday
• "chahAr shanbeh" (4+Saturday) is Wednesday
• "panj shanbeh" (5+Saturday) is Thursday,
• but then Friday gets its own name: "Jom'eh".
• 

3. Why do you jump over fire?

Because it's there. Some people say it's based on Zoroastrian tradition. Others say that Zoroastrians wouldn't desecrate fire by leaping over it. I don't really know about that. I do it because it's so much fun. Especially right after they throw gasoline on it. You just go through this wall of flame and your hair and eyelashes get singed. Nothing quite like it. Be a stuntman, or just celebrate chahAr shanbeh suri. OK, the leaping through the high flames after gasoline is for reckless youth. Most people are timid and wait for the fire to get low - embers, really, and just step over it. Wimps.

4. What do you chant as you jump over the fire?

You're supposed to say"zardi-eh man az to, sorxi-eh to az man", or is it the other way around (pictured)? I have always had my doubts because the sentence just doesn't make sense to me. This preposition "az" - I'm just not getting it. I think of it as "from", and it doesn't compute. What are the consequences of saying it backwards? Oh, the anxiety. I will look into the matter (please contact us if you have the definitive answer here). Essentially, this phrase is supposed to mean that you are taking the red vitality of the fire and incorporating it into yourself, and you are letting your diseased yellow be burned off into the fire.

5. What are the folks back In Iran doing these days with it?

Here is a note from my sister in Iran:

"How are you and how was your chahr shanbeh soori celebration? Did you have fun? Boy, being here after all these years was a hoot! People no longer jump over fires in the neighborhood. They gather in big meeting places and jump and light firecrcakers and just let loose and have a grand old time!

We went to someones house who lives along the river, overlooking Chamran Highway. The entire Chamran street, as far as we could see in either direction, was packed with cars and people lighting firecrackers and entire time! We also added our share of light and noise and jumped over fires while we were there. Rahim said the Salt Lake was packed. Also, Jomhoury Street, the highway near our house was packed with people! It was very different from our childhood, but a blast nonetheless."

6. chahAr shanbe suri links - Pending.

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