Iranians celebrate fest of fire on Persian Year eve

Iranians celebrate the ancient Persian festival of fire, also known as Chaharshanbe Souri, to welcome the Persian New Year.

The ancient festival of Chaharshanbe Souri is held on the eve of the last Wednesday of the Persian calendar year.

Marking the festival, people light bonfires and jump over the flames, chanting "zardi-ye man az toh, sorkhi-ye toh az man” which means “Let my yellowness [paleness] be yours and your redness be mine.”

These days, people in Iran are gearing up for the Nowruz that ushers in spring, cleaning and decorating their homes and buying new clothes.

SQ/AG