Third Esfand Wednesday (Qara chershenbe) · Qara Chershenbe

Culture of origin: Azerbaijani · Ancient festival

Holiday sources: Azerbaijani

The third of the four Esfand Wednesdays kept in Iranian Azerbaijan is called qara ("black") or mushtuluqchu in West Azerbaijan, according to Hassan Sepehrfar of the province's Cultural Heritage office, and chile-güdi in East Azerbaijan. In Sepehrfar's account the third week of Esfand belongs to the earth, doghri nefes, when life returns to the ground. In East Azerbaijan people lit fires on their rooftops on each of the four Wednesdays, the last being Chaharshanbe Suri.