Event Title:

Organization:

  Festival

  Oakland

Start Date:

  3/18/2025

End Date:

  3/18/2025

Start Time:

  6:00 PM

End Time:

  10:00 PM

Event Info: 

  JUMP OVER BONFIRES AT CHAHARSHANBEH SURI: FESTIVAL OF FIRE

Berkeley, CA - Persian Center will be hosting its 21st Annual Chaharshanbeh Suri at the 2000 & 2100 blocks of Durant Avenue in Berkeley: Jump over bonfires on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, at Persian Center, 2029 Durant Avenue in Berkeley from 6-10 pm, to celebrate the change of seasons and welcome spring. A Persian ritual passed down since ancient Zoroastrian times, the Persian New Year Festival of Fire, called Chaharshanbeh Suri, is held on the last Tuesday night in winter, just before the Vernal Equinox or first moment of spring. This is the time of year when Persians around the world will be celebrating Nowruz (New Year).

As the sun sets, people jump over bonfires to say farewell to the coldness, paleness, and sickness of winter, and welcome the redness, warmth and energy of spring they sing, "Zardi-ye man az toh, sorkhi-ye toh az man," which translates to, "May your rosy red glow be mine, and my sickly yellow pallor be yours." The tradition, rooted in Zoroastrianism (which predates Islam), serves as a cultural festival for Iranian and Iranic people and holds no religious significance.

Outside, in addition to the bonfires, there will be Persian music, food, arts & crafts booths for children, and stations for various cultural organizations.

By engaging the non-Persian community in the Festival of Fire, the organization hopes to allow a glimpse into beautiful Persian traditions and the culture of the Iranian-American community in the US. The event which is hosted by the Persian Center is a free, family-friendly, non-alcoholic event held outdoors on the 2000 & 2100 blocks of Durant Avenue, rain or shine.

For more information contact info@PersianCenter.org or www.BayAreaPersianFest.com.

https://www.trinaryco.com/persian-festival

Location:

  Durant and Shattuck

Room:

Address:

  2029 Durant Ave

Phone:

City:

  Berkeley

State/Province:

  CA