Fire: The Latest in a Long List of Things I Have to Look Out for When I’m Walking Places
Tonight, as Kim and I left the apartment and turned the corner to go down the hill, I nearly walked into the smoking but still well-camouflaged remnants of a bonfire that was completely obstructing the 2-foot wide sidewalk. Don’t get me wrong, I learned long ago to never expect or rely on sidewalks. If they’re not taken over by construction or cars, there’s generally something else, garbage, produce, makeshift booth with radio, space heater, and light but no discernable purpose, that will block your way and force you onto the road. But this is a stretch of sidewalk, probably about 20 feet long, that I’ve come to rely on. And now it’s no longer available due to the sudden occurrence of bonfire. WTF?
Well, March is upon us and that means Novruz. I’ve read up on this holiday a little bit to supplement what we’ve been told in my Azeri classes. Basically, although rooted in Zoroastrianism, it is still widely celebrated in Muslim countries such as Azerbaijan, Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, and the countries of Central Asia. It’s basically a vernal equinox thing with the usual vernal equinox associations of new beginnings, fertility, fire-jumping, etc. Thus the fire. Every Wednesday in the month of March leading up to Novruz has a particular theme. Novruz itself is on the 19th this year. I actually knew about the bonfires, but was under the impression that people did their fire-jumping in their courtyards. Also, according to the website, it’s done on the last Wednesday before Novruz. I guess they thought they needed the practice. Oh little bit of sidewalk, you will be missed.
