Established in 2002, the Parya Trillium Foundation is a not-for-profit federally registered Canadian charity. Parya hosts educational, social, cultural, art and recreational activities to meet the needs of Greater Toronto’s Persian-speaking community and the community at large.
Parya expanded its programming, services and facility at the exciting new location in Markham to include:
■ Arts & Ideas
■ Educational Programs
■ Health & Wellness
■ Newcomer Services
■ Persian Cultural Events
■ Seniors Programs
■ Sports & Recreation
■ Youth Programs
Persian Cultural Events
Some of highlights of these cultural events that promote a sense of belonging and harmony are Nowruz and Chaharshanbe-Suri.
Nowruz
One of the main events each year is to celebrate the secular Persian festival of Nowruz. Which is celebrated on the spring equinox and announces the begginning of the Persian calendar.
Chaharshanbe-Suri
Chaharshanbe-Suri falls on the last Wednesday of the Persian calendar year, and has its origins in the fire worshipping rituals of prehistoric inhabitants of the Iranian plateau beginning some three thousand seven hundred years ago.
Today the festival is celebrated in preparation for the first day of spring, as a prelude to the Iranian new year, Nowruz. This event is a purely secular celebration, in which Iranians come together to light bonfires in public spaces and leap over their flames.
As children, women and men jump through the fire they sing out "zardi-ye man az to, sorkhi-ye to az man," loosely translated to mean "take my yellow paleness and give me your red warmth." Leaping over the fire three times symbolically enacts the leaving behind of one's troubles and worries to embrace a fresh new beggining.
In order to help children learn about these cultural festivities, Parya hosted a Chaharshanbe-Suri event, filled with activities and fun, such as face painting, story hour, puppet show, and singing.
To Contact Parya:
http://parya.org/contact
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