Hajji Firuz
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| Hâjji Fîrûz | |
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| Hâjji Fîrûz Dancing by Mellat Park, Tehran | |
| Gender: | Male |
| Purpose: | To Celebrate Persian New Year, Norouz |
Hâjji Fîrûz or Hajji Piruz, is the traditional herald of Nowruz. He is a black-faced character clad in bright red clothes and a felt hat. While ushering in Nowruz, Hajji Firuz plays a tambourine and sings "haji firuze, sali ye ruze" (It is Haji Firuz time, It happens one day a year). People of all ages gather around him and his troupe of musicians and listen to them play the drum, saz or kamancheh, and dance.
[edit] History
In ancient times, he was known as Khwajah Piruz. This aspect of Nowruz was so prominent that the mayors of towns were literally displaced by the most victorious person in carrying out the commands of Ahura Mazda and his six holy immortals. This Piruz (Persian for victorious) Khwaja (lord) was given the rule of the realm for the period. As a part of his duties, Khwaja Piruz saw to it that all the people of the realm were provided with the amenities and joy that were due them. After the conquest of Iran by the Arabs, the office of Khwajah Piruz deteriorated into its Arabized form, Haji Firuz. Only the duty of stimulating laughter and providing a good time has remained of what must have been a complex set of social affairs. Today, Haji Firuz is no more than a spectacle that occurs during the last few weeks before Nowruz.
It is suggested that he symbolizes the rebirth of the Sumerian god of sacrifice, Domuzi, who was killed at the end of each year and reborn at the beginning of the New Year.
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