Hajji Firuz


Hajji Firuz or Khwaja Piruz, is a fictional character in Iranian folklore who appears in the streets by the beginning of Nowruz. His face is covered in soot, and he is clad in bright red clothes and a felt hat. He dances through the streets while singing and playing a tambourine.

Etymology

Haji, as written with the eighth letter of Perso-Arabic alphabet, has a meaning unrelated to that of the word Hajji; it is a form of address, much like using sir to address a person in English, without the person being a knight. As written with the penultimate letter of the Perso-Arabic alphabet, it derives from the word heja, meaning 'satire'. Firuz is the Arabized version of the Persian word piruz, meaning 'victor'.
Khwaje Piruz is the other version of the term, which consists of the word khwaje, identified as an Iranian title meaning 'master', and the non-Arabized piruz.

History

In the traditional songs, he introduces himself as a serf trying to cheer people whom he refers to as his lords. As a black-faced serf, he is a controversial character, seen as symbolically racist. Therefore, half of his face is sometimes painted white in order to avoid the criticisms.
According to some sources, Haji Firuz is based on a tradition called Mir Nowruzi. Mir Nowruz was a comical figure chosen to rule the municipality for "the last five days of the year". The temporary "five-day king" would often parade the city with a group of singers and dancers for the Nowruz celebrations.
Mehrdad Bahar, a prominent Persian historian, opined in 1983 that the figure of Haji Firuz may be derived from ceremonies and legends connected to the epic of Prince Siavash, which are in turn derived from those associated with the Mesopotamian deity of agriculture and flocks, Tammuz. Later, it was claimed that the blackened face of Haji Firuz symbolizes his returning from the world of the dead, his red clothing is the sign of the blood of Siavash and the coming to life of the sacrificed deity, while his joviality is the jubilation of rebirth, typical of those who bring rejuvenation and blessing along with themselves. Bahar speculates that the name Siyāwaxš might mean 'black man' or 'dark-faced man' and suggests that the term black in the name may be a reference either to the blackening of the faces of the participants in the aforementioned Mesopotamian ceremonies, or to the black masks that they wore for the festivities.

Typical songs

Hāji Firouz E!

Hāji firuz e, sāl-i ye ruz e
Hame midunan, man am midunam
Eyd e Nowruz e, sāl-i ye ruz e

Arbāb e Xod am

Arbāb e xod am, "sāmmule baleykom"
Arbāb e xod am, sar et-o bālā kon
Arbāb e xod am, lotf-i be mā kon
Arbāb e xod am, be man nigā kon
Arbāb e xod am, boz-boz e qandi
Arbāb e xod am, čerā nemi-xandi?

Beškan Beškan

Beškan beškan e, beškan!
Man nemi-škanam, beškan!
Injā beškanam, yār gele dāre
Unjā beškanam, yār gele dāre
In siāh e bičāre če qad howsele dāre!

Books