Chahaarshanbeh Souri, Santa Cruz beach, California.
By the fire
A group of us gathered at the beach in Santa Cruz last night -- Tuesday, March 18, 1997. Here's a closer look.
Local park rangers had given permission to light fires for Chahaarshnbeh Souri from 8 to 10 at night. The rangers showed up promptly at 10, telling us through a loudspeaker in their jeep to turn out the fire. No problem.
It was fun. Jaaye hamegi khaali, as they say (should have been there; we missed you). By the time Farzaneh and Firouzeh Rohanizadeh and I got to the beach, the fires had just been lit and the jumping was well under way.
There were about 30 of us, mostly between the ages of 20-30. We couldn't resist screaming every time we jumped over the fire. And when everyone had their second and third run, it was time for some clapping and dancing . The girls danced, the men clapped. The favorite song seemed to be Sandy's banadri tune, "Dokhtar Ahvazi" (Ahvazi girl).
And then Mehrdad Nejat got out his drum and played some bandari. Earlier that day his wife, Fariba Nejat, had succeeded in convincing the Santa Clara County to recognize March 21, 1997, as Iranian Heritage Day.
Curiously, there was not one mention of Iran, by anyone at the beach.
J. Javid
Related stories
Do you have a story to tell about Chahaarshanbeh Souri or Noruz
in your community? Any interesting memories from back in Iran? You are
welcome to submit.
*
* Chahaarshanbeh
Souri in Emeryville (March 21, 1997)
I was soaking up the sight and the sounds when I was interrupted "Fandak
daareed?"
By Bahman Azimi
* Sizdah
Bedar...Los Gatos, California (1996)
Thousands of Iranians converge in one park.
By Bruce Behrouz Bahmani
* Wondering
in Sydney (1996)
Charshanbeh-souri in Australia.
By Abbas Imani
* Keep
Me Out of the Melting Pot
On the disbanding of an Iranian community group.
By Babak Nabili
* The
Noruz tradition
What is Noruz? Haft seen? Sizdah Bedar?
By Mani Farhadi
* Mage Publishers' Noruz
page
All you need to know about Noruz traditions
By Najmieh Batmanglij
* Persian articles in Tehran's Hamshahri newspaper about Noruz and
its history (1997)
http://www.neda.net/hamshahri/751221/ejtem39.htm
http://www.neda.net/hamshahri/751226/gungn3.htm
http://www.neda.net/hamshahri/751227/elmfa13.htm http://www.neda.net/hamshahri/751228/gozar13.htm
* Washington
Post's scent of Noruz
Iranians in Washington DC want baked goods for the holiday, and
the Yas Bakery is famous for making the real deal.
By Steve Twomey
Copyright © 1997 Abadan Publishing Co. All Rights Reserved. May not be duplicated or distributed in any form.