In this “red celebration”, people go out and make bush fires and keep them burning till the next morning. This is symbolic of burning all that was bad, pain, unhappiness, sickness and worry and looking forward to a new beginning. People jump over the burning cinders and shout, “Oh, Chahrshanbe Suri; Give me your red color (red face color is the symbol of healthiness) and take back sickly pallor,” which is a purification ritual. Some believe their ancestors’ spirits visit during the last few days of the year. Chaharshanbeh Suri, in many ways is the equivalent of Halloween.
