Charshanbe soori preperations underway: Activists write slogans

The Iranian regime has been preparing to confront any social activity or gathering with respect to charshanbe soori ceremonies, which normally involve jumping over fire and a food feast.
It has mobilized in its maximum capacity to meet any discontent or gathering. nevertheless, we are receiving reports of scattered activities on behalf of youth and families to carry on with the feasts, in an effort to express anti-government discontent and strive for a complete change of system in Iran.
One such reports is of slogans being written in public places and routs .
The photo is sent by teams writing slogans and preparing for a feast tonight and tomorrow.
Photo: Anti Khamenei slogans written in Boostan Park –Shahrak e Gharb : MARG BAR KHAMANEI JALAD
"Down with Khamenei the henchman"


Back ground to Chahar-Shanbeh Soori, Festival of Fire

Photos from Archive
People jumping over fire
Last Wednesday of the year (Chahar Shanbeh Soori): On the eve of last Wednesday of the year, literally the eve of Red Wednesday or the eve of celebration, bonfires are lit in public places with the help of fire and light, it is hoped for enlightenment and happiness throughout the coming year. People leap over the flames, shouting:

(Sorkhi-e to az man) Give me your beautiful red color
(Zardi-e man az to) And take back my sickly pallor!

With the help of fire and light symbols of good, we hope to see our way through this unlucky night - the end of the year- to the arrival of springs longer days. Traditionally, it is believed that the living were visited by the spirits of their ancestors on the last day of the year. Many people specially children, wrap themselves in shrouds symbolically reenacting the visits. By the light of the bonfire, they run through the streets banging on pots and pans with spoons called Gashog-Zani to beat out the last unlucky Wednesday of the year, while they knock on doors to ask for treats. Indeed, Halloween is a Celtic variation of this night.

In order to make wishes come true, it is customary to prepare special foods and distribute them on this night.

Noodle Soup a filled Persian delight, and mixture of seven dried nuts and fruits, pistachios, roasted chic peas, almond, hazelnuts, figs, apricots, and raisins.

The ancient Iranians celebrated the last 10 days of the year in their annual obligation feast of all souls, Hamaspathmaedaya (Farvardigan or popularly Forodigan). They believed Foruhars (fravagar), the guardian angles for humans and also the spirits of dead would come back for reunion. These spirits were entertained as honored guests in their old homes, and were bidden a formal ritual farewell at the dawn of the New Year. The ten-day festival also coincided with festivals celebrating the creation of fire and humans. In Sasanian period the festival was divided into two distinct pentads, known as the lesser and the greater Pentad, or Panji as it is called today. Gradually the belief developed that the 'Lesser Panji' belonged to the souls of children and those who died without sin, whereas 'Greater Panji' was truly for all souls.

Spring housecleaning was carried out and bon fires were set up on the rooftops to welcome the return of the departed souls. Small clay figurines in shape of humans and animals symbolizing all departed relatives and animals were also placed on the rooftops. Zoroastrians today still follow this tradition. Flames were burnt all night to ensure the returning spirits were protected from the forces of Ahriman. This was called Suri festival. There were gatherings in joyful assemblies, with prayers, feasts and communal consumption of ritually blessed food. Rich and poor met together and the occasion was a time of general goodwill when quarrels were made up and friendships renewed.

Today the occasion is accompanied by fire works from locally made firecrackers. There is no religious significance attached to it any more and is a purely secular festival for all Iranians.
Your fiery red color is mine and my sickly yellow paleness is your. This is a purification rite and 'suri' itself means red and fiery.

Why so much fuss over a traditional ceremony by Iraian regime?

The truth of the matter is that , since the 2009 uprisings, the Iranian regime has lost its sturdiness and is undergoing a rather fast trend of implosion as the result of internal uprisings, factional greed over power, disability to overcome economic, social and political crisis within its fractions and also the presence and activity of dissident and organized opposition.
The taboo of the “Velayat Faghih” or supreme jurisprudence was cracked in 2009 uprisings and at its peak in Ashura protests of 2009 , and is now leading to disintegration of the whole hierarchy.
In other words it is at its weakest and getting weaker while trying to sustain in midst of all the problems inside and outside.
Any protest or continued protests will be the last of the Iranian once considered Religious Empire.

Clips from Last year showing a turing of the tide during the festivities :
Freedom messenger



HRA