This is the start of Farvardegan, which means “days of remembering the Fravashis" or guardian angels. It's a ten day Zoroastrian festival, which includes the five days of Hamaspathmaidyem (beginning on March 17th this year), the sixth and last gahambar. This gahamber is the most significant to Zoroastrians, because it's devoted to remembering the fravashis or guardian angels. According to Zoroastrian religion, each of the 6 creations was created during one of the Gahambars. Mankind was created on this last one.
Farvardegan is a prelude to Nowruz, the Persian New Year, on March 21. The word Nowruz means New Day in Persian. It’s an ancient Persian belief that creation of the world took place on the first day of spring.
2. Light a lamp for the angels
3. Recite prayers
4. Make Ajeel
5. Build a fire and JUMP!
1. Spring cleaning:
To honor the angels, and prepare for Nowruz, Iranians clean their houses, mend anything that is broken, take baths, and buy new clothes.
This is my ceremonial start to spring cleaning, which I take very seriously. Today I plan to turn my mattress and vacuum under the bed.
3. Recite Prayers:
People say lots of prayers during these ten days. Zoroastrians turn towards a flame while praying, which symbolizes the fire of creation and the spiritual flame within each of us-- and so I stand before a candle flame to recite the Ashem Vohu (invocation of Asha) from the Avesta (Zoroastrian Book of Common Prayer).
Agenda this week:
1. Spring cleaning
3. Recite prayers
4. Make Ajeel
5. Build a fire and JUMP!
1. Spring cleaning:
To honor the angels, and prepare for Nowruz, Iranians clean their houses, mend anything that is broken, take baths, and buy new clothes.
This is my ceremonial start to spring cleaning, which I take very seriously. Today I plan to turn my mattress and vacuum under the bed.
2. Light a lamp for the angels:
After the house is clean, Zoroastrian families set out fresh flowers and light an oil lamp to welcome the spirits and angels. The water and flowers in the vase are supposed to be changed daily for the next 10 days, and the lamp is kept lit all the time (I use a candle, and keep it lit only when I'm nearby).
This is like All Souls Day, when the souls of the departed and the angels come down to the earth. All souls are liberated, from wherever they are, even from hell. These days are a joyful time for remembering and welcoming the souls of ancestors and the all angels. Zoroastrians try to show love and gratitude to them, for all the help they give during the year.
They give thanks to two types of Fravashis - those helping Nature and those helping people. Fravashis help waters to flow, plants to grow, clouds to go where needed and the sun, moon and planets to go around in their orbits. They uphold the sky and earth. Every creation has a Fravashi. Human beings have individual Fravashis as our guardian spirits.
People mostly stay home during these days before Nowruz, since the souls
and Fravashis come home, and it is not proper to leave them and go out. Sometimes night long vigil
was also kept by people.
People say lots of prayers during these ten days. Zoroastrians turn towards a flame while praying, which symbolizes the fire of creation and the spiritual flame within each of us-- and so I stand before a candle flame to recite the Ashem Vohu (invocation of Asha) from the Avesta (Zoroastrian Book of Common Prayer).
The Ashem Vohu is a prayer with universal appeal. The word Ashem has many meanings: Law, Order, Beauty, Truth, Righteousness, Purity, Freedom. This one word expresses Divine truth, purity of body and mind, and all the beauty of nature. It's a central idea in Zoroastrianism.
This prayer is like a mantra, to be chanted slowly. To hear it recited, go to this link.
ashem vohû vahishtem astî
Truth is the best good.
ushtâ astî
It is happiness.
ushtâ ahmâi hyat ashâi vahishtâi ashem.
Happiness is to one whose truth (represents) best truth.
4. Make Ajeel:
Ajeel is always served at the bonfires of tomorrow's Chahar Shanbeh Soori. Ajeel is a Persian mixture of dried fruits with roasted nuts and seeds, similar to trail mix. There is no one recipe- you just make it as you like it. Use the list below as a starting place, and add or subtract as you wish.
On Red Wednesday, children in Iran visit their neighbor's houses in disguise, usually something like a veil covering their entire body. Each kid carries an empty metal bowl and a metal spoon. At the door, they bang the spoons on the bowls and on the door. The neighbor places a treat in each visitor's bowl, usually ajeel. The kids try to remain silent and anonymous throughout the process.
Ajeel is always served at the bonfires of tomorrow's Chahar Shanbeh Soori. Ajeel is a Persian mixture of dried fruits with roasted nuts and seeds, similar to trail mix. There is no one recipe- you just make it as you like it. Use the list below as a starting place, and add or subtract as you wish.
On Red Wednesday, children in Iran visit their neighbor's houses in disguise, usually something like a veil covering their entire body. Each kid carries an empty metal bowl and a metal spoon. At the door, they bang the spoons on the bowls and on the door. The neighbor places a treat in each visitor's bowl, usually ajeel. The kids try to remain silent and anonymous throughout the process.
Ingredients:
1/2 c. shelled pistachios
1/2 c. roasted almonds
1/2 c. shelled pistachios
1/2 c. roasted almonds
1/2 c. roasted cashews
1/4 c. roasted chickpeas
1/4 c. black or golden raisins
1/4 c. dried mulberries
1/4 c. roasted chickpeas
1/4 c. black or golden raisins
1/4 c. dried mulberries
1/4 c. dried apricots
1/4 c. dried cranberries
In a bowl mix together all the fruit and nuts.
In a bowl mix together all the fruit and nuts.
5. Build a fire and JUMP!
Tuesday night is the eve of Chahar Shanbeh Soori (pronounced Čār šamba-sūrī), which means Red Wednesday- the last Wednesday of the year in Iran.
On this night neighbors in Iran gather to build bonfires, and everyone leaps over the fire, to burn away the bad luck of the old year, and create good luck for the new year.
Tuesday night is the eve of Chahar Shanbeh Soori (pronounced Čār šamba-sūrī), which means Red Wednesday- the last Wednesday of the year in Iran.
On this night neighbors in Iran gather to build bonfires, and everyone leaps over the fire, to burn away the bad luck of the old year, and create good luck for the new year.
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