[Firecrackers flying into the sky. Photo Credit to Unsplash]

On March 14th to 15th, 2023, around 4000 people were injured and 27 people died during Chaharshanbe Suri, a new year’s party, in Iran.

Most who were injured or ended up dying were burnt. 

287 people are currently receiving inpatient treatment; 222 people were severely injured and had to be amputated, while 25 people were moved to the intensive care unit. 

Chaharshanbe Suri, with Chaharshanbe meaning Wednesday and Suri meaning light or fire in Iranian, celebrates the last Wednesday of the year in order to greet and hope for a happy new year. 

Iran believes that the new year starts on the beginning of Spring, which is March 21st, meaning that the last Wednesday of 2022 would be March 15th. 

As the day turns from Tuesday to Wednesday, Iranians usually celebrate the new year using fireworks and jumping over bonfires.

However, because of the party’s use of fire, the government placed 800 firefighters, 280 ambulances, and 180 motorcycles on standby in 800 towns around Tehran, Iran’s capital city, to prevent casualties. 

The government also tried to avert crowding when the party started by letting people get out of work earlier. 

The Embassy of South Korea also encouraged Koreans living in Iran to stay inside, preferably away from the crowd, and were asked not to take any photos or videos near fires. 

Though the government puts much effort to prevent casualties, illegal chemical firecrackers mixed up with explosives and iron balls were used by people in order to create louder popping sounds and the flame of the fireworks. 

Some even created these dangerous firecrackers on their own without permission or even proper equipment.

This led to the injured or dead Iranians during the Chaharshanbe Suri. 

Last year saw 19 people dead and around 2800 people injured. This year’s Chaharshanbe Suri had higher casualties with 8 more people dying and around 1200 more people injured. 

The reason why fire is used in a new year’s event is because of the religious beliefs of Zoroastrianism; Zoroastrianism worships fire. 

The large popping sound when setting off fireworks was also believed to drive ghosts away, similar to the historical firework use in China.  

As Iranians jump over bonfires, they shout out, “take the yellow from me and bring me the red.”

The yellow means disease and concerns while the red means health and joy in Iran. 

Though this is a day where silliness and joy is accepted, aparting from the religious thought that humility and moderation are virtues, Chaharshanbe Suri has led to a lot of casualties. 

Many people around the world think that the event is too dangerous to be a new years party due to the high number of casualties, especially since people create firecrackers on their own by mixing toxic chemicals.