Hajji Firuz

Hajji Firuz (Persian: حاجی فیروز‎ – Hājji Firuz) or Khwaja Piruz (Persian: خواجه پیروز‎ – Xwāje Piruz),[1] 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.

For the village in Iran, see Hajji Firuz, Iran. For the neolithic complex, see Hajji Firuz Tepe.

Etymology

Haji, as written with the eighth letter of Perso-Arabic alphabet (حاجى‎), 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 (هاجی‎), it derives from the word heja (هجاء‎), meaning 'satire'.[2] 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.[3] Therefore, half of his face is sometimes painted white in order to avoid the criticisms.

According to some sources, Hajji 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" (Panje). The temporary "five-day king" (Šāh e Panj Ruze) would often parade the city with a group of singers and dancers for the Nowruz celebrations.[4]

Mehrdad Bahar, a prominent Persian historian, opined in 1983 that the figure of Hajji 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 (Sumerian Dumuzi).[5][6] Later, it was claimed that the blackened face of Hajji Firuz symbolizes his returning from the world of the dead,[1] 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.[7]

Typical songs
Hajji Firuz on the Chalous Road

Hājji Firouz E!

Hājji firuz e, sāl-i ye ruz e (It’s Hajji Firuz, it’s only one day a year)

Hame midunan, man am midunam (Everyone knows, I know as well)

Eyd e Nowruz e, sāl-i ye ruz e (It's Nowruz, it’s only one day a year)

Arbāb e Xod am

Arbāb e xod am, "sāmmule baleykom" (Greetings, my lord)

Arbāb e xod am, sar et-o bālā kon (Raise your head, my lord)

Arbāb e xod am, lotf-i be mā kon (Do me a favor, my lord)

Arbāb e xod am, be man nigā kon (Look at me, my lord)

Arbāb e xod am, boz-boz e qandi (My lord, the billy goat)

Arbāb e xod am, čerā nemi-xandi? (Why don’t you smile, my lord?)[7]

Beškan Beškan

Beškan beškan e, beškan! (It's a snap-snap, snap!)

Man nemi-škanam, beškan! (I won't snap, snap!)

Injā beškanam, yār gele dāre (If I snap here, this one will complain)

Unjā beškanam, yār gele dāre (If I snap there, that one will complain)

In siāh e bičāre če qad howsele dāre! (How patient this poor [man] is!)

See also
  • Border Morris – A collection of individual local dances from Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Shropshire
  • Knecht Ruprecht
  • Amu Nowruz – Character from Iranian folklore ('Uncle Nowruz')
  • Siuda Baba – An old Polish folk custom, celebrated on Easter Monday

References
  1. "Noruz". traditionscustoms.com. Retrieved 2018-09-02.
  2. John Richardsohn:Wilkens, Charles, ed. (1810). . London: F. & C. Rivingson, p. 626 and p. 628
  3. Faces around the World: A Cultural Encyclopedia of the Human Face By Margo DeMello – Black Face, Page 28
  4. According to research by Dr. Mahmoud Roh-ol-Amini based on the writings of Allamah Mohammad Ghazvini on "Mir-Norouzi" in the early twentieth century.
  5. "Haji Firuz As Iranian Blackface: Why the Iranian-American Community Needs To End This Tradition". The Iranian. 2018-04-02. Retrieved 2018-09-02.
  6. Baghoolizadeh, Beeta (2012-06-20). "The Afro-Iranian Community: Beyond Haji Firuz Blackface, the Slave Trade, & Bandari Music". Ajam Media Collective. Retrieved 2018-09-02.
  7. Omidsalar, Mahmoud. "ḤĀJI FIRUZ". Encyclopedia Iranica. Retrieved 2012-01-08.

Books
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