Chahar shanbe soori, a photo from Semnan, East

Photographer's Note

"Chahar shanbe Souri" is a night before the last Wednesday of Pesian year. It is an ancient symbolic tradition in which Iranians do some fire plays. This tradition, alike Norouz, dates from Pre-Islamic times.

The last Wednesday of the year is celebrated by the Iranian people as Chahar Shanbe Soori, when people go into the streets and alleys, make fires, and jump over them while singing the traditional song "Zardie man az tou Sorkhie tou az man" (literally: I give you my yellow, you give me your red (the color of the fire), but figuratively: My paleness (sickness) to you, your ruddiness (health) to me).
also in cities, firecrackers and explosions could be heard everywhere in this years unfortunately.

But intersting note is this:
The Islamic regime has been changing its stance regarding the celebration of the pre-Islamic and the Iranian national holiday of Norouz, it has been almost consistent in its opposition to the Chahar-shanbe-souri ceremony. The clergies condemn every year the practice of this 'pagan' ceremony, and, therefore, it has been always a time of tension and conflict with the Islamic regime since its establishment. At the time of the ceremony, the Iranian national television broadcasted every year two famous Hollywood movies, in order to attract viewers and to avoid their appearance on the streets.

The islamic government is against this ancient tradition! but people (specially youth) do this celebration every year. inattentive to animus of islamic government.

Fire has been sanctified in iran from old in ancient persia. this belief exist in this land yet. i think this belief's origin is from zoroastrian religion.

isabela_sor, lu_muratori, pranab, lestans, azadys, nbj, Jacobp, leiju, royh, demneh, calimex, Mondaychild, sfsepehr, fatchloe ha contrassegnato questa nota come utile

Critiques | Translate

mouzakof (396) 2006-03-15 14:26

not only the comment but the shot through fire it reminds me something from my country ...

excellent idea and note

thanks

isabela_sor (47748) 2006-03-15 14:35

Amazing tradition and perfect note for explain all!An unusually photo, but so interesting, my dear Saam
All the best for you

lu_muratori (618) 2006-03-15 14:55

Hi Saam,very good note, I had never heard of this costume, it is amazing how many cool things I have learnt since I have joined the TE. You got a very good moment, wit the guy inside the flames and you composed it quite well with that bloke standing on the side. I couldn't understand the thumbnail, I thought it was a kind of doll being burnt...
Well done,
Luciana

joon (53) 2006-03-16 15:46

aks khobi bod kami zamineh germezesh ziad shodeh

dvlazar (6662) 2006-03-16 21:33

A unique and interesting capture.
Nice action with the fire.
Regards.

sayat (2949) 2006-03-17 6:55

Beautiful shot. Anything pagan is quite interesting and precious to preserve. Just enough light to catch the watcher's expression, very good shot.
Best regards,
Sayat

stranger (726) 2006-03-17 17:00

Strange shot ... But I like it... Sharp, Well captured with nice light handling plus a Special note ...

I believe we have to keep this tradition alive but not things which have been added to this old beautiful tradition recently ... Like using explosive devices to make horrible sounds which shake city and caused death of one woman in Iran this year ...

Take a look @ this : http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5483/1474/1600/4shanbesoori_15.0.jpg
( Gas capsole explosion - Just for some youth fun in fire games )

Thanks for sharing,

Shahab.

pranab (5354) 2006-03-18 0:01

saam,
interesting note. did you know, the night before the indian(hindu) spring festival, HOLI (the festival of color), people gather all sorts of junk and make fire, symbolizing the end of old and the new begining.
good shot of the movement and good catch of the color too.

[2]

lestans (17258) 2006-03-22 2:30

What an interesting note!! I have copied and saved it. I like so much to discover such informations about your country, that I hope to visit and I hope to be in peace as long as possible, forever.
I like also the photo a lot, I like the boy watching quitely the other boy jumping in the fire
Livia

azadys (717) 2006-03-25 3:21

Hi Dear Saam.
i like this photo and atospher on it ...
thanks for great note.

regards
azad

smash2707 (3320) 2006-04-03 12:27

Composition is good and, although your picture is a bit dark, it is a very interesting scene. Regards, Yvonne

[workshop] [compare] +

nbj (2097) 2006-05-26 4:13

Wow, what a great capture! Never saw anything quite like it...Thank you for sharing this, and thank you for a very informative note.
Nana

Jacobp (798) 2006-07-09 18:35

salam saam
in akse kheyli ghashangi hast.makhsosan on shoalehaye aatish.damet garm
jacobp

demneh (309) 2006-12-29 6:11

Badrood
saam jan damet be hamin garmiye atashe paake parsayani ke dar donya baghi moondan
bedrood

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Mondaychild (378) 2007-03-14 2:00

Hi Saam,

first of all: very informative note! I think it´s great that you follow and preserve your ancient traditions - even though it´s forbidden.

The small boy in the left seems to be quite amazed by the lady "walking" through the fire - but nevertheless, I think it would look more mystical if you cropped the boy and the wall.

Nevertheless, interesting shot! Well done!

We have the same tradition in Austria, we jump over fire on June 21, the beginning of summer. Also this tradition is pre-christian ... but it´s allowed nevertheless ;-)

calimex (151) 2007-03-14 2:45

Hi Saam,
The photo is compelling, and your note is most informative about the observance of Chahar shanbe Souri and its pre-Islamic, possibly zoroastrian, origins. This photo and your note are excellent examples of the mission of this TE site. Thank you so much!
José

P.S. 13 March 2007 update: I've posted a photo of my city's observance of this festival tonight in the U.S.A.