Persians 'Jump Fire' at Winthrop

Thirty students, professors and administrators jumped over a small bonfire in the Winthrop House courtyard last night to celebrate Nowruz, the Persian New Year.

The bonfire ritual, known as Chaharshanbe-souri, symbolizes the annual cleansing of the spirit and is an ancient Persian tradition which is still practiced in Iran, participant Masood Farivar '94 said.

The "fire-jumping" event commemorates the Persian New Year which began on Sunday, the Spring Equinox.

The festivity, sponsored by the Harvard Persian Society, was aimed at presenting a more complete picture of the culture of Iran, group member Fariborz M. Fariborz '95 said.

"The main aim of the Harvard Persian Society is to inform the Harvard community that Persian culture stands for many things other than terrorism and fanaticism," Fariborz said.

After the bonfire ritual, 50 people attended a dinner of Middle Eastern delicacies.

During the dinner, Ahmad Mahdavi-Damghani, visiting scholar at the Center for Middle-Eastern studies, delivered an address on Persian culture and on the origins of the Persian calendar. Last night's activities concluded with a poetry reading by Farivar.

In addition to being a traditional festival, the bonfire ritual has recently begun to carry political connotations, said Houchang E. Chehabi, associate professor of Government and of Social Studies.

Iran has attempted to prohibit the ritual because of its pre-Islamic, "pagan" origins, Chehabi said.

Many Iranians, however, continue the tradition because they uphold it as a symbol of the secularization of the state, Chehabi added.

Former Currier House Master Holly Davidson was present during the ritual and gave an introductory speech. She is one of the founders of the Harvard Persian Society.