"Char Shanbe Suri" Iranian ancient celebrity

A boy jumps over a raging fire, as another throws papers into the blaze, to celebrate an ancient festival marking the end of the Iranian year called Chahar-Shanbe Suri (Wednesday Feast), in Tehran, Iran, Tuesday, March. 16, 2004. The festival has been frowned upon by hard-liners since the 1979 Islamic revolution because they consider it a symbol of Zoroastrianism, the ancient religion Iranians adhered to before the advent of Islam, and say it contradicts Islamic traditions. They have advised against holding celebrations. The Iranian new year begins March 21. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)