What is the name of the Persian festival of fire celebrated on the last Wednesday of the year?

The Persian festival of fire celebrated on the last Wednesday of the year is called Chaharshanbe Suri. It is held on the eve of the final Wednesday before Nowruz, the Iranian New Year.

The festival centers on bonfires and renewal. Participants traditionally jump over the flames while reciting a phrase asking the fire to take away sickness and weakness and give back strength and energy. Fire represents purification and vitality during the transition from winter to spring.

Other customs include spoon-banging, in which disguised people knock on doors seeking treats, and eating ajeel, a mixture of nuts and dried fruit. Some families also practice forms of fortune-telling, including opening a volume of Hafez’s poetry to interpret a randomly chosen verse.

Chaharshanbe Suri is often described as having ancient Zoroastrian roots, though its precise historical development is debated. It is also distinct from Yalda, which is the winter solstice observance, and from Nowruz itself, which begins with the spring equinox. The name is commonly rendered in several English spellings, including Chaharshanbeh Suri and Charshanbe Suri.