Jump over a bonfire (or watch others do it) in the ritual of “Chahr-Shanbeh Souri” as the Persian Center celebrates Nowruz, or Persian New Year to say goodbye to the darkness of winter and welcome the lightness of spring.

2014 Persian New Year Festival & Fire Jumping
Tuesday, March 18, 2014 | 6-10PM
Persian Center, 2029 Durant Avenue, Berkeley, CA
FREE

Inside the Persian Center, a traditional altar holds green grass, live goldfish, food and other items representative of spring called the “haftseen” or seven ‘s’s as each item on the table begins with the letter ‘s’.

Persian music, food, and craft vendors, cultural organizations, and children’s activities add to the nighttime experience. This is a free, family-friendly, non-alcoholic event held outdoors at night, rain or shine.

A Persian ritual passed down since ancient Zoroastrian times, the Persian New Year Festival, called Chahar-Shanbeh Souri, literally means ‘Eve of Wednesday” because the festival is always held on the last Tuesday of winter, just before the Vernal Equinox or first moment of spring.