Thread by @EzidiHeritage

Happy Ezidi New Year!

[THREAD] Çarşemba Serê Nîsanê, Çarşemba Serê Salê or Çarşemba Sor - Is an Ezidi festival that marks the beginning of the calendar & is celebrated annually on the first Wednesday on or after 14th April, or in Ezidi calendar, 1st Nîsan. (1/19)

This feast is a celebration of the renewal of the year and the earth during spring, when plains, mountains, fields & pasture are adorned with colourful plants & a new life in nature has started. This is also referenced to in a Qewl passage: (2/19)

1. Li Çarşembûyê xoş bû jîyan,
2. Kesk bûn deşt, û çiya, û zevî, û zozan,
3. Hemû bi kerema Pedşê minî Yezdan.

1. Life becomes pleasant on Wednesday,
2. Plaints, mountains, fields and pastures have become green,
3. All by the mystical power of my Lord Yezdan. (3/19)

14th April coincides with the astrological event of the sun transitioning into Aries sign ('Beran' in Kurdish), the first of the twelve zodiac signs. For this reason, this event marks the beginning of the year also in many other Asian cultures. (4/19)

For instance, in many Hindu regions where the solar calendar is used, the new year is also celebrated around this day. (5/19)

In Ezidi tradition, the day ends & begins at sunset, therefore, the official & festive celebrations begin Tuesday evening, which is called Wednesday Evening (Hêvara Çarşembê). Ezidis are forbidden to marry during this month as it is known as Bûka Salê (bride of the year). (6/19) twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

The rituals & activities in this feast represent the stages of the creation & cosmogony. The cleaning of the temples represent the universe when it was still in state of dark indefiniteness, in which the primordial white pearl was revealed. (7/19)

Ezidis visit the cemeteries to commemorate their dead & bring offerings and fruits for them. The visits to the tombs represent the Enzel stage, which was the state of immateriality. (8/19)

The egg symbolizes the earth and the primordial White Pearl. The boiling of the egg symbolizes the coagulation & solidification of the earth to how it is today. The colouring of the egg represents the adornment of the earth with nature & life. (9/19)

At the same time, the ceremonial tappings of the eggs (Hîkanê) represent the bursting of the pearl which led to existence of universe (Big Bang of Ezidi Mythology). It's believed that the person whose egg remains unbroken will be blessed for the rest of the year. (10/19)

Bonfires and candles are also lit at night, representing the stage when light was dispersed. At Sûka Merîfetê ('Market of the [mystical] Knowledge') in Lalish, 365 or 366 candles are lit on this feast. (11/19)

Ezidis visit the Zemzem spring inside a cave at Lalish and offer sacrifices for blessings, this visit represents the infinite ocean which was formed from the water flowing from the White Pearl when it bursted. (12/19)

Mixture of clay/dough, water, eggshells and flowers are also put on walls & doorways of homes, shrines and other sacred places, representing the amalgamation of the natural elements which led to the existence of the material world. (13/19) twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

This practice is called "Serderî" & a reference to it is also found in Qewlê Çarşembûyê (Hymn of the Wednesday): (14/19)

1. Hat çarşembûya sor û zere,
2. Behar xemilandbû ji kesk, û sor, û sipî, û zere,
3. Me pê xemilandbû seredere.
4. Hincîyê serederê bixemilîne,
5. Bila pirsyarket ev jiber çîne,
6. Eve xelatêt Tawisî melek û siltan Êzîne. (15/19)

1. The red & yellow Wednesday came,
2. It adorned the Spring with green, red, white & yellow,
3. We adorned the doorway with it,
4. Whoever adorns the doorway,
5. Should ask what this is for,
6. It is the gift of Tawisî Melek and Siltan Êzî (i.e God). (16/19)

Finally, the ritual washing of the Sencaq statues, carried out by each of the religious dignitaries, including Babe Şêx, Baba Çawîş & Pêşîmam, represent the descent of Tawûsî Melek to earth. (17/19)

In Ezidi mythology, in the beginning of creation, Tawûsî Melek descended to earth & the seven colours of the rainbow transformed into a seven-coloured bird, the peacock, which flew around every part of earth to bless it & its resting place was in Lalish. (18/19)

In Ezidi beliefs, until now in the first Wednesday of Nîsan every year, Tawûsî Melek descends to earth as light for the renewal of life on earth & adorns its nature. Accordingly, one of the names of this feast is also 'Cejna Tawûsî Melek'. (19/19)