Nowruz is one of the most important Persian holidays and coincides with the vernal equinox and the first day of spring.
In the days leading up to Nowruz, Chahārshanbe Sūrī (Fire Wednesday) is celebrated by jumping over bonfires, a ritual that marks the transition into the new year, casting off the past year’s hardships and welcoming light and health. Fire symbolizes purification and cleansing in Persian tradition, and is often vividly depicted in miniature painting, as in this scene.
📕 ‘The Fire Ordeal of Siyāvush,’ Folio 104v from the Shāhnāmah (‘Book of Kings’) of Firdawsī, attributed to Shiraz, Iran, copied for “Muḥammad Sharīf” by Muḥammad ‘Alī, in 1023/1614.
ALT An illuminated manuscript page depicting a historical scene, featuring a person surrounded by golden flames. Several individuals, dressed in vibrant traditional attire, stand nearby gesturing towards the individual. The backdrop includes a lush tree and an ornate building with intricate patterns. The page is adorned with Persian script.