Tonight is the last Tuesday evening of the Persian calendar which means it’s the night when all of us Persians gather around bonfires and jump over them. Chaharshanbeh Souri is always celebrated on the eve of the last Wednesday of the year.

Small bonfires are set up for people to jump over the flames while reciting zardi-ye man az to, sorkhi-ye to az man, which loosely translated means “take my yellow and sickly color in exchange for your red color.” This ritual is centuries old and is associated with Zoroastrianism.  The purpose of the phrase that is recited is to draw from the brightness and energy of the fire and release everything that is negative and sickly into the fire.

What happens if you live in a place where you can’t put together a small fire? The answer is simple, just grab a candle or two, light them, and then jump over them!!!

And don’t forget to indulge in some Chaharshanbeh Souri Ajil…

…or make some MPK’s Ajil mix!

Whatever you do, I wish you a very happy Chaharshabeh Souri filled with much light and brightness!