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- Jumping the bonfires — The core ritual: people leap over small fires while chanting “Zardi-ye man az to, sorkhi-ye to az man” (take my paleness, give me your redness). It’s simple, visceral and oddly cathartic—part purification, part daredevil neighborhood sport, and the moment everyone remembers they’re together for the new year.
- Fireworks and crackling street pyrotechnics — From modest bottle-rocket displays in alleyways to improvised sparkler circles, the skies and streets light up. The noise and sudden flashes create a collective adrenaline buzz you don’t get from tidy, ticketed events—just chaotic, joyful chaos that feels very local.
- Burning esfand (rue) and smoke-warding — People toss dried rue onto embers and wave the smoke around homes or across their bodies. It’s an old, loud
- Jumping the bonfires — The core ritual: people leap over small fires while chanting “Zardi-ye man az to, sorkhi-ye to az man” (take my paleness, give me your redness). It’s simple, visceral and oddly cathartic—part purification, part daredevil neighborhood sport, and the moment everyone remembers they’re together for the new year.
- Fireworks and crackling street pyrotechnics — From modest bottle-rocket displays in alleyways to improvised sparkler circles, the skies and streets light up. The noise and sudden flashes create a collective adrenaline buzz you don’t get from tidy, ticketed events—just chaotic, joyful chaos that feels very local.
- Burning esfand (rue) and smoke-warding — People toss dried rue onto embers and wave the smoke around homes or across their bodies. It’s an old, loud superstition meant to ward off the bad eye and negative energy—more about comfort and continuity than literal fear, and it smells unmistakably resinous.
- Street gatherings, music and impromptu performances — Neighbors spill into the streets with portable speakers, drums, and snacks; kids run with sparklers; you’ll catch impromptu singing, dancing, and sometimes street theater. It’s a very mixed, intergenerational party where strangers trade laughs and sweets like it’s your backyard barbecue turned national holiday.
- Letting-go rituals and symbolic renewal — Folks burn old papers or small items, write worries on scraps to throw into the fire, and generally do little acts of “starting fresh.” It’s less formal than a ceremony and more an emotional reset—perfect for anyone who wants a low-cost, meaningful ritual to enter the new year lighter.
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Best Backpacking
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Hi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past decade, I’ve backpacked through 80+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.