So, the Persians have a habit of jumping fires. Just before their new year. I wanted to go see. So I did. I went to Ambleside beach in West Vancouver to see the spectacle. It was quite the remarkable one. Hundreds of people of various ages were there in the muddy field. They were dancing. They were eating. They were lining up. To jump over fire. To dispel bad luck from last year allegedly. I was brave. But not too brave. I watched from the side-lines.
I had mentioned the fire jumping to my friend. He mentioned that his people do the same thing back home. To an amateur perhaps, it is surprising that such behaviour is similar across thousands of kilometres. But then again, I have seen these sorts of things too many times to be taken in by the the awe of it all.
I have been here before. The music is similar. The people are the same happy people I have seen elsewhere. The last time I was in a crowd this big, I was thinking fights would break out. None did. It was the same this time around. I still thought something would happen. It is interesting that as a human, my thoughts are honed towards the bad. People came there with their _families_ to have a good time. Why would there be a fight? But what about all those times when you are in a crowd and something bad happens?
One of the largest crowds I have ever been in is for the Trichur pooram. Now that was no amateur crowd. Those were literally thousands upon thousands of people. All happy. Perhaps one day, I will forget about the dangers crowds bring and actually enjoy the moment.
Fire is integral to the Zoarastrian faith. That is not new to me. The Islamic revolution did little to change that in Persia. The faith exists in many forms. It exists back home with the Parsis.
What was interesting while at the fire jumping was the notion that others came to share in the event. I saw many non-Persians (yours truly being one of them) at the event, taking part in what must be a rather ancient tradition that probably roasts a few behinds every year. I wonder if, in the ancient world, people took part in the Persian new year. Non-Persians that is. Why would they? Well, lets take the era of Darius the Great. He was known well in Egypt. He built temples there. He was known in Jerusalem. He allowed the re-building of the temple there. He was known by the Greeks. They defeated his armies at Marathon. There would have been a new year or two along the way. The ancient folk must have jumped fires.
Here I was thinking that an event such as this where I am allowed the privilage to participate was a grand thing, something that Canada provided as a unique opportunity. Someone must have thought the same in the ancient world... somewhere between the Caucases and Egypt. Or maybe in Persepoles. Or any of those ancient cities in-between. They too must have stood in awe at the crowds for the fire jumping... fearing a fight or two. Minus the cell phones and cameras of course.
The world I live in is a unique one. But it isn't one that hasn't been seen by others before. Someday, I will fully realise how special it is. Until then, I'll keep writing about it.
I had mentioned the fire jumping to my friend. He mentioned that his people do the same thing back home. To an amateur perhaps, it is surprising that such behaviour is similar across thousands of kilometres. But then again, I have seen these sorts of things too many times to be taken in by the the awe of it all.
I have been here before. The music is similar. The people are the same happy people I have seen elsewhere. The last time I was in a crowd this big, I was thinking fights would break out. None did. It was the same this time around. I still thought something would happen. It is interesting that as a human, my thoughts are honed towards the bad. People came there with their _families_ to have a good time. Why would there be a fight? But what about all those times when you are in a crowd and something bad happens?
One of the largest crowds I have ever been in is for the Trichur pooram. Now that was no amateur crowd. Those were literally thousands upon thousands of people. All happy. Perhaps one day, I will forget about the dangers crowds bring and actually enjoy the moment.
Fire is integral to the Zoarastrian faith. That is not new to me. The Islamic revolution did little to change that in Persia. The faith exists in many forms. It exists back home with the Parsis.
What was interesting while at the fire jumping was the notion that others came to share in the event. I saw many non-Persians (yours truly being one of them) at the event, taking part in what must be a rather ancient tradition that probably roasts a few behinds every year. I wonder if, in the ancient world, people took part in the Persian new year. Non-Persians that is. Why would they? Well, lets take the era of Darius the Great. He was known well in Egypt. He built temples there. He was known in Jerusalem. He allowed the re-building of the temple there. He was known by the Greeks. They defeated his armies at Marathon. There would have been a new year or two along the way. The ancient folk must have jumped fires.
Here I was thinking that an event such as this where I am allowed the privilage to participate was a grand thing, something that Canada provided as a unique opportunity. Someone must have thought the same in the ancient world... somewhere between the Caucases and Egypt. Or maybe in Persepoles. Or any of those ancient cities in-between. They too must have stood in awe at the crowds for the fire jumping... fearing a fight or two. Minus the cell phones and cameras of course.
The world I live in is a unique one. But it isn't one that hasn't been seen by others before. Someday, I will fully realise how special it is. Until then, I'll keep writing about it.
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