>> VISITING...WITH HUELL HOWSER IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT FROM... [CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY KCET PUBLIC TELEVISION] Huell: OK!

HERE WE GO!

THE SUN IS SETTING.

WE ARE HERE ON THE BEACH IN BEAUTIFUL EL SEGUNDO.

I AM STANDING HERE WITH MY NEW FRIEND SHAHROOZ.

DID I PRONOUNCE IT CORRECTLY?

>> ABSOLUTELY PERFECTLY.

Huell: OK. NOW, THIS IS GOING TO BE A LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR US ALL, AND I'M ACCEPTING A LOT ON FAITH BECAUSE YOU PROMISED ME THAT IF WE CAME DOWN HERE TODAY, WE WERE GOING TO BE PART OF SOMETHING VERY EXCITING, VERY CULTURAL, VERY HISTORIC, RELIGIOUS, IN A WAY.

COVERS ALL BASES.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

HUELL, I KEEP MY PROMISES.

2 HOURS FROM NOW, LET'S SEE WHAT WE SEE.

Huell: ALL RIGHT.

2 HOURS FROM NOW, YOU PROMISE THAT ALL THIS AREA OUT HERE THAT'S EMPTY RIGHT NOW IS GOING TO BE FILLED WITH PEOPLE, AND THERE ARE GOING TO BE BIG FIRES GOING.

HUGE FIRES.

>> BIG FIRES, SMALL FIRES.

AND EVEN MORE INTERESTING, THEY'RE GOING TO BE JUMPING OVER THOSE FIRES.

Huell: OK. WE GOT TO GET TO THAT IN A MINUTE.

FIRST OFF, WE'RE HERE BECAUSE WE'RE LEADING UP TO NEW YEAR'S.

>> EXACTLY.

Huell: EXPLAIN THAT.

PERSIAN NEW YEAR.

>> IT'S PERSIAN NEW YEAR.

ESSENTIALLY, HUELL, IT'S A CELEBRATION OF LIFE, IF YOU WILL, AT THE CORE OF THE EVENT.

IT'S AN ANCIENT TRADITION.

IT PREDATES RELIGION IN IRAN, WHICH IS THE CURRENT SORT OF COUNTRY THAT--WHERE--THE EPICENTER OF THE TRADITION, IF YOU WILL.

AND IT GOES BACK AT LEAST 2,000 YEARS BEFORE CHRIST, IF NOT LONGER.

AND-- Huell: REALLY?

2,000 YEARS BEFORE CHRIST.

>> BEFORE CHRIST.

AND IT'S BASICALLY--AS IT FORMED--AS THE PERSIAN EMPIRE FORMED, AS THE DYNASTIES FORMED, THE CELEBRATION BECAME MORE AND MORE DOCUMENTED.

SO WE HAVE TRACES OF THE ACTUAL TRADITION GOING BACK TO THE FIRST GREAT PERSIAN EMPEROR, CYRUS THE GREAT.

Huell: THE TRADITION WE'RE GOING TO SEE HERE TONIGHT?

>> WHAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE HERE TONIGHT IS AT LEAST, AT THE VERY LEAST, 4 OR 5,000 YEARS OLD.

Huell: AND THE PEOPLE WHO COME HERE TO TAKE PART IN THIS TRADITION ARE--IT'S REALLY VERY ECUMENICAL, ISN'T IT?

>> IT IS, IT IS.

IT IS.

IT IS NOT ONLY IRANIANS, IF YOU WILL.

IT'S PERSIANS OF DIFFERENT FAITHS AND DIFFERENT EVEN COUNTRY ORIGINS.

TURKS, AZERBAIJANIS, ARMENIANS, PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN INFLUENCED SOMEHOW BY THIS ANCIENT TRADITION.

Huell: SO IT'S NOT MOSLEM, IT'S NOT CHRISTIAN, IT'S NOT--IT DOESN'T FALL INTO ANY OF THESE?

>> YOU KNOW WHAT THE BEAUTY OF IT IS, IS THIS--ITS ORIGIN IS ZOROASTRIAN, WHICH IS THE FIRST MONOTHEISTIC RELIGION.

IT'S THE FIRST ONE-GOD RELIGION.

BUT NOW, IT'S BECOME SUCH A SECULAR EVENT THAT YOU WILL SEE TONIGHT PERSIAN JEWS CELEBRATING SIDE BY SIDE WITH PERSIAN MOSLEMS, PERSIAN CHRISTIANS, PERSIAN BAHA'I--PEOPLE OF THE BAHA'I FAITH.

Huell: WOW.

>> YES.

AND THAT'S THE BEAUTY OF THIS EVENT, BECAUSE EVERYBODY-- ANYBODY OF PERSIAN ANCESTRY, OF PERSIAN ORIGIN, GATHERS AND CELEBRATES THIS EVENT.

Huell: AND THIS IS TAKING PLACE A FEW DAYS BEFORE PERSIAN NEW YEAR.

>> EXACTLY.

Huell: NOW, WHEN IS PERSIAN NEW YEAR'S EVERY YEAR?

>> EVERY YEAR, IT COINCIDES WITH THE SPRING EQUINOX.

SO THOSE 2 GO SIDE BY SIDE.

SO THE SPRING EQUINOX THIS YEAR IS FRIDAY MORNING AT 3:44 A.M., I BELIEVE.

Huell: IN MARCH, MARCH THE... >> MARCH THE 20th.

Huell: RIGHT.

>> SO--AND PERSIAN NEW YEAR'S GOING TO BE AT THE SAME EXACT TIME AND THE SECOND, AND THEN, THAT'S WHEN THE YEAR TURNS.

Huell: SO THIS CELEBRATION THAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE TONIGHT ALWAYS TAKES PLACE A COUPLE OF DAYS BEFORE THE BEGINNING OF PERSIAN N--BEFORE PERSIAN NEW YEAR.

>> THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.

IT'S ALWAYS THE LAST TUESDAY EVENING BEFORE THE YEAR TURNS.

Huell: WOW.

THIS IS-- >> SO... Huell: SEE, I'VE LIVED IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA FOR 25, ALMOST 30 YEARS.

I NEVER KNEW THIS WENT ON.

THIS IS A BIG DEAL.

THIS IS GOING TO BE GOING ON IN OTHER PLACES IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA TONIGHT AS WELL, RIGHT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THERE'S ANOTHER LARGE PARTY IN NEWPORT BEACH, THEN SAN DIEGO HAS ANOTHER PARTY, AND I BELIEVE UP NORTHERN CALIFORNIA EVEN HAS A FEW CELEBRATIONS.

Huell: WOW.

AND THE NAME OF THE CELEBRATION, AGAIN, IS?

'CAUSE WE'RE GOING TO PUT IT UP ON THE SCREEN SO PEOPLE CAN SEE IT WRITTEN OUT.

>> RIGHT.

IT'S CHAHAR SHANBEH SOORI.

"CHAHAR SHANBEH" MEANS "WEDNESDAY."

"SOORI" IS AN ANCIENT PERSIAN WORD THAT MEANS "RED," LITERALLY, RED OR FIERY.

Huell: WOW.

FIERY!

>> FIERY MEANS--EXACTLY IN RELATION TO THE FIRE.

THAT'S RIGHT.

Huell: SO, WE'RE GOING TO JUST KIND OF SHUT OFF THE CAMERA RIGHT NOW AND WAIT FOR EVERYBODY TO ARRIVE, WAIT FOR IT TO GET DARK, WAIT FOR THEM TO LIGHT THE FIRES.

AND THEN... >> THEN, WE'LL PARTY.

[LAUGHS] Huell: WE'RE GOING TO PARTY!

[TECHNO MUSIC PLAYING] Huell: OK!

TIME HAS PASSED, AND WE HAVE OUR FIRST FIRE.

LET'S WALK DOWN THROUGH HERE.

EXCUSE ME JUST A MINUTE.

COMING THROUGH.

OH, BOY.

BOY, IT'S A BIG FIRE.

>> A BIG FIRE.

Huell: HOT FIRE!

>> HOT FIRE.

Huell: NOW, WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?

IS THIS TYPICAL OF WHAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE TONIGHT?

>> IT'S TYPICAL.

THIS IS BASICALLY THE LARGE FIRE TO CELEBRATE THE FESTIVAL OF FIRE.

BUT THE SMALLER ONES WILL BE USED TO DO THE ACTUAL JUMPING.

I DOUBT ANYBODY WOULD ACTUALLY JUMP OVER THIS ONE RIGHT HERE.

Huell: SO PART OF THE FESTIVAL OF FIRE, THOUGH--COME ON IN HERE, CAMERON, AND TAKE A LOOK, BECAUSE WE GOT EVERYBODY KIND OF STANDING AROUND.

IT'S JUST THE CELEBRATION-- >> THE CELEBRATION-- Huell: OF BEING TOGETHER, WHETHER YOU'RE JUMPING THE FIRE OR COOKING ON THE FIRE-- >> EXACTLY RIGHT.

Huell: OR JUST STANDING AROUND THE FIRE.

>> IT'S THE SYMBOLISM OF THE FIRE.

THE FIRE CELEBRATES THE RENEWAL OF LIFE, PURITY OF LIFE.

IT SORT OF WASHES AWAY THE BAD AND SORT OF THE ILL WILL OF THE LAST YEAR.

Huell: IT ALSO PROVIDES LOTS OF HEAT.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

[LAUGHS] Huell: IT'S HOT OUT HERE!

BUT LOOK OVER HERE.

LOOK AT ALL THE WOOD WE HAVE GOT, READY TO PUT IN THE FIRE, AND THEN, EVERYBODY IS JUST KIND OF STANDING AROUND WATCHING.

THIS IS A WHOLE BIG FIRE EXPERIENCE.

AND YOU'RE RIGHT.

THERE ARE HUNDREDS--THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HERE TAKING IT ALL IN.

HE'S DOWN HERE CELEBRATING THE FESTIVAL OF FIRE.

NOW, IS THIS AN ANNUAL TRIP FOR YOU TO COME DOWN HERE TO THE BEACH?

>> YEAH.

EVERY YEAR, I JUST COME 'CAUSE IT'S SO MUCH FUN, AND YOU'RE JUST PARTYING AND JUST JUMP FIRE, BASICALLY.

Huell: YEAH.

NOW, DO YOU KNOW THE TRADITION OF THIS?

HAVE YOU BEEN TAUGHT THIS BY YOUR FAMILY?

>> UH, YEAH, WHEN I WAS YOUNG, BUT I SORT OF FORGOT IT BY NOW.

[LAUGHS] Huell: SO, A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE HERE JUST FOR THE FUN OF IT?

>> YEAH, BASICALLY.

ALL THE YOUNG PEOPLE COME OUT 'CAUSE, LIKE, IT'S JUST LIKE A GIANT PARTY, BASICALLY, WITH BONFIRES.

Huell: YEAH.

>> YEAH.

IT'S FUN.

Huell: PART OF THIS CELEBRATION IS EATING, AND BOY, WE'VE GOT A LOT TO EAT HERE TONIGHT.

SHAHROOZ, THIS IS YOUR MOM, YOUR DAD-- >> HI!

Huell: YOUR FRIEND, YOUR AUNT.

BOY, THIS IS THE WHOLE FAMILY RIGHT HERE.

AND EXPLAIN WHAT WE'VE GOT.

NOW, RIGHT OFF THE BAT, I KNOW WHAT THESE ARE.

THESE ARE PISTACHIOS.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

THAT'S RIGHT.

THIS IS PART OF THE TRADITIONAL CELEBRATION--NUTS, MIXED NUTS, WITH MIXED DRIED FRUIT.

IT'S SORT OF A SIGN OF PASSING-- Huell: THAT'S WHAT THIS IS.

LOOK AT THIS RIGHT HERE.

>> EXACTLY RIGHT.

NO DIFFERENT.

Huell: SO THAT'S JUST KIND OF LIKE A TRAIL MIX SITUATION YOU'VE GOT.

>> IT'S A PERSIAN TRAIL MIX.

Huell: A PERSIAN TRAIL MIX?

>> PERSIAN TRAIL MIX, RIGHT.

Huell: NOW, WHAT'S THE DEAL ON THE SANDWICHES?

THAT'S NOT TRADITIONAL.

>> THAT'S JUST FOR YOU AND ME TO EAT.

[LAUGHS] Huell: SO THAT'S KIND OF A BOW TO AMERICAN-- >> THAT'S THE AMERICANIZED VERSION OF IT, RIGHT.

Huell: AMERICANIZED VERSION.

BUT HERE.

I'M GOING TO LET YOU HOLD THE NUTS, BECAUSE HERE'S THE-- >> THIS IS THE MAIN EVENT.

Huell: HERE'S THE HOME RUN RIGHT HERE.

WHAT ARE WE LOOKING AT RIGHT HERE?

>> THIS IS CALLED AASH-E-RESHTEH.

IT'S BASICALLY LENTIL SOUP, PERSIAN-STYLE LENTIL SOUP, AND IT'S BEANS.

AND IT--BASICALLY, IT'S-- >> IT'S A TRADITIONAL PERSIAN SOUP, YEAH.

Huell: SO THIS IS TRADITIONAL.

>> THAT IS VERY, VERY TRADITIONAL, YES.

Huell: IT'S ALSO TRADITIONAL TO EAT IT ON THIS NIGHT.

>> ABSOLUTELY, YEAH.

Huell: SO EVERYBODY HAS TO HAVE SOME SOUP?

>> IF YOU'RE NEW.

Huell: IS IT HARD TO MAKE THIS SOUP?

>> YEAH, I'M EATING IT.

Huell: YOU HAVE TO EAT IT, TOO.

HARD TO MAKE IT, THOUGH?

>> HARD TO MAKE IT, RIGHT?

>> YEAH.

YEAH.

NO.

Huell: NO?

>> NOT TOO MUCH.

Huell: NOT TOO MUCH.

ALL RIGHT.

SO THE NAME OF IT, AGAIN, IS... >> AASH-E-- >> [INDISTINCT] Huell: WILL I NEED A SPOON?

DOES SOMEBODY HAVE A SPOON?

>> GIVE ME THE SPOON.

Huell: 'CAUSE I WANT TO TRY THIS.

>> SURE.

HE'S GOING TO GIVE YOU A CLEAN SPOON NOW.

Huell: WOW.

I'VE NEVER HAD ANY OF THIS-- >> THERE YOU GO.

Huell: ALL RIGHT.

HERE WE GO.

LOOK AT THIS.

>> [LAUGHS] >> IT'S GOOD.

GOOD.

VERY GOOD.

Huell: WOW.

IT'S THICK.

>> ONE, 2... Huell: OH, IT'S VERY GOOD.

>> YOU LIKE IT?

>> THAT'S GOOD.

Huell: THUMBS UP!

>> I HOPE YOU LIKE IT.

Huell: THUMBS UP.

THUMBS UP!

NOW, THIS IS INTERESTING.

THIS FIRE LOOKS LIKE IT IS LITERALLY A COOKING FIRE.

>> IT IS FOR NOW, RIGHT.

IT IS FOR NOW.

THEY'RE MAKING--THEY'RE FINISHING THE SOUP, AND ONCE THEY'RE DONE, THIS FIRE'S STRONG ENOUGH TO ACTUALLY--SAFE-- SOMEWHAT SAFE TO JUMP OVER, SO.

Huell: SO YOU MEAN THAT WHOLE BIG POT THERE IS FULL OF THE SOUP-- >> YES, IT IS.

Huell: THAT I'VE JUST FINISHED EATING, THAT YOUR MOTHER HAD MADE?

>> THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.

SO YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE SOME OF THAT, TOO.

[LAUGHS] Huell: WOW!

SO I GET THE IDEA EVERYBODY HAS SOME OF THE SOUP.

>> THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.

Huell: WHAT IS THE SOUP CALLED AGAIN?

>> IT'S CALLED AASH-E-RESHTEH.

Huell: EASY FOR YOU TO SAY.

[BOTH LAUGH] Huell: CAN YOU GET THIS SOUP IN RESTAURANTS YEAR ROUND, OR IS IT JUST A HOLIDAY SOUP?

>> IT'S A HOLIDAY SOUP, BUT ABSOLUTELY, YOU CAN ALSO GET IT AT MOST PERSIAN RESTAURANTS ON WESTWOOD OR ANY OTHER PLACE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.

Huell: YEAH.

BUT TONIGHT IS ITS BIG NIGHT.

>> TONIGHT IS ITS BIG NIGHT.

IT'S THE STAR TONIGHT.

Huell: NOW, THIS IS INTERESTING.

YOU ARE COOKING CORN, RIGHT?

LET'S PUT THE CORN IN THE FIRE.

AND ARE YOU HERE FOR PART OF THE CELEBRATION TONIGHT?

>> NO, SEPARATE.

Huell: NO?

YOU JUST HAPPEN TO BE HERE.

>> RIGHT.

>> YEAH.

Huell: WELL, WHAT DO YOU THINK ALL THIS IS GOING ON AROUND HERE?

>> WELL, I ASKED SOMEONE, AND IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE, I THINK, PERSIAN NEW YEAR'S OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT?

YEAH.

Huell: YEAH.

SO, DID YOU KNOW YOU WERE GOING TO BE PART OF ALL THIS WHEN YOU CAME DOWN HERE?

>> NOPE.

HAD NO IDEA.

Huell: YOU THOUGHT YOU WERE GOING TO HAVE A QUIET NIGHT ON THE BEACH, DIDN'T YOU?

>> RIGHT.

Huell: AND YOU ENDED UP... >> WITH A PARTY IN BACK OF US!

Huell: [LAUGHS] A BIG PARTY!

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

Huell: WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT?

THAT'S PART OF LIVING IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.

YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.

>> RIGHT.

Huell: HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!

>> THANK YOU.

[LAUGHTER] Huell: THEY CAME HERE TOTALLY BY ACCIDENT, AND THEY'RE COOKING CORN!

WE GOT THE WHOLE FAMILY HERE.

GRANDMOTHER, MOTHER, AND CHILDREN RIGHT HERE.

>> FRIEND.

Huell: AND FRIEND.

OK. HA!

NOW, IS THIS JUST SOMETHING YOU HAVE TO DO EVERY YEAR?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

YOU HAVE TO COME AND CLEANSE YOUR SOUL RIGHT HERE.

Huell: SO, WAIT A MINUTE.

YOU'RE CLEANSING YOUR SOUL?

>> YES, YOU ARE.

Huell: IT'S THAT IMPORTANT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

Huell: SO IT DOES HAVE A DEEPER MEANING THAN JUST A PARTY AND JUST A--I MEAN, THERE'S A REAL-- >> YES.

I'VE DONE IT SINCE I WAS A CHILD.

AND YOU JUMP THROUGH THE FIRE, AND YOU GIVE THE RED TO THE FIRE, AND YOU TAKE THE YELLOW, THE ENERGY, SO YOU BASICALLY ARE RENEWING YOURSELF.

Huell: WOW.

>> I WOULD INVITE YOU TO DO THAT.

Huell: SO, ANYBODY CAN DO IT?

>> YES, ABSOLUTELY.

Huell: AND THIS WAS--YOU TAUGHT THIS TO YOUR DAUGHTER?

>> WELL, WHEN WE WERE IN IRAN, SHE LEARNED IT FROM SOCIETY.

EVERYBODY WAS DOING IT.

AND ALSO, WE HAVE GOT VERY SPECIAL NUTS, WHICH IS MOSHKEL-GOSHA.

MOSHKEL-GOSHA.

>> IT SOLVES YOUR PROBLEMS.

SO IF YOU HAVE SOME OF THESE NUTS, YOUR PROBLEMS WILL BE RESOLVED.

Huell: WOW.

NOW, HAVE YOU LEARNED ALL OF THIS FROM YOUR MOTHER?

>> NO.

[LAUGHTER] Huell: SO, WAIT A MINUTE!

>> LISTEN, SHE'S THE ONE WHO HAD TO BE HERE TONIGHT.

WE'VE COME 2 YEARS IN A ROW.

THIS IS OUR THIRD YEAR, ACTUALLY.

AND SHE HAD TO BE HERE.

Huell: SO YOU REALLY WANTED TO BE HERE, DIDN'T YOU?

>> YEAH.

Huell: YEAH.

IT'S PART OF THE TRADITION-- >> ABSOLUTELY.

Huell: THAT JUST KEEPS BEING PASSED FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION.

>> AND BEN LOVES TO BE HERE, TOO.

>> YES.

WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE BEN'S HERE EVERY YEAR AS WELL.

Huell: SO YOU'RE PART OF THIS WHOLE THING.

>> YEAH.

Huell: HERE.

HAVE SOME OF THESE NUTS.

>> HE DOESN'T HAVE ANY PROBLEMS.

[LAUGHTER] >> HE DOESN'T NEED TO SOLVE ANY PROBLEMS.

Huell: SHE'S FINISHED HER SOUP.

>> YES.

IT WAS WONDERFUL.

Huell: SO YOU EAT EARLY.

>> YES.

Huell: THAT'S TO GET THE ENERGY-- >> TO KEEP WARM.

Huell: TO JUMP THE FIRE.

>> OF COURSE.

OF COURSE.

Huell: DO YOU JUMP THE FIRE?

>> NOT YET.

[LAUGHS] Huell: BUT I MEAN, EVERYBODY JUMPS?

>> YES.

>> EVERYBODY, YEAH.

>> [INDISTINCT] >> THAT'S THE TRADITIONAL.

Huell: BUT I DIDN'T REALIZE EVERYBODY DID IT.

I THOUGHT PEOPLE JUST CAME AND WATCHED OTHER PEOPLE DO IT.

>> NO.

IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN LATER ON.

>> A LITTLE MORE... >> IT'S A TRADITIONAL EVENT THAT WE JUMP OVER A FIRE TO CLEANSE OUR BODIES.

Huell: OH, I KNOW, BUT I DIDN'T KNOW THERE WAS THAT MUCH GO-- I THOUGHT THEY WERE JUST SOME OF THE MORE ATHLETIC PEOPLE JUMPED, AND EVERYBODY ELSE STOOD BY.

>> OH, NO, EVERYONE.

>> BUT YOU CANNOT JUMP THAT HIGH A FIRE.

[LAUGHS] Huell: I'M NOT GOING TO JUMP THAT FIRE!

>> WE ARE WAITING FOR A SLOWDOWN, THE FIRE, AND WE CAN JUMP OVER.

Huell: AND THEN YOU'RE GOING TO JUMP.

>> YES.

Huell: AND HOW MANY YEARS HAVE YOU BEEN JUMPING?

SINCE YOU WERE A LITTLE KID?

>> YES, YES.

IT IS A LONG WAY-- TRADITION THAT WE HAVE.

Huell: YEAH.

>> VERY OLD FROM OUR CULTURE.

Huell: AND YOU CARRY IT ON IN THIS COUNTRY.

>> YES.

ESPECIALLY, YES.

>> WE ARE HERE ALMOST 32 YEARS, FLEW BACK TO IRAN TO HERE LOS ANGELES ABOUT, YEAH, 1975.

AND I'M HAPPY.

I'M PROUD.

WE ARE HERE.

>> WE CELEBRATE EVERYTHING EVERY YEAR, ESPECIALLY NOWRUZ.

WE CELEBRATE.

EVERYBODY KNOWS THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO GATHER HERE TO CELEBRATE OUR TRADITION HERE.

>> WHOO!

Huell: I ASSUME THIS IS A TRADITIONAL DANCE, RIGHT?

>> YEAH, OF COURSE!

Huell: WHAT IS THE DANCE CALLED?

>> PERSIAN DANCE?

[LAUGHTER] Huell: AND SO, THAT'S PART OF THE CELEBRATION AS WELL TONIGHT?

>> ABSOLUTELY, ABSOLUTELY.

PEOPLE ARE VERY HAPPY.

I MEAN, PERSIAN PEOPLE ARE VERY HAPPY PEOPLE, AND WHENEVER THEY HAVE AN OCCASION, THEY GATHER AROUND, THEY DANCE, THEY HAVE GOOD MUSIC-- Huell: YEAH.

>> LIKE THIS, SO IT'S A FESTIVE OCCASION, THE BEGINNING OF THE NEW YEAR.

Huell: NOW, DOES YOUR CHILD UNDERSTAND?

NOT QUITE, PROBABLY, YET, WHAT ALL OF THIS MEANS.

BUT THE STIMULATION FROM ALL OF THIS HAS GOT TO BE MAKING--HAVING AN EFFECT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SHE'S GOING TO WAKE UP WITH US FOR THE BEGINNING OF THE NEW YEAR, WHICH IS 4:00 IN THE MORNING.

AND SHE'S GOING TO HAVE NEW CLOTHES, NEW SHOES, EVERYTHING... Huell: WOW.

>> SO THAT SHE UNDERSTANDS THE MEANING OF THE TRADITION, THE BEGINNING OF THE SPRING.

Huell: THE NAME OF THE FAMILY?

>> MAYER FAMILY.

Huell: THE MAYER FAMILY.

YOUR NAME IS... >> FARBODEN.

>> KATI.

Both: AVA!

Huell: AND THEY'RE HERE TO CARRY ON THE TRADITION.

>> YEAH!

Huell: [LAUGHS] >> [SPEAKING FARSI] THAT'S THE NAME OF THE NEW YEAR IN OUR LANGUAGE.

>> [INDISTINCT SHOUTING] Huell: OUR FIRST JUMP!

>> OUR FIRST JUMP OF THE EVENING.

Huell: AND THEY'RE JUMPING THE BIG FIRE.

>> I STAND CORRECTED.

THEY ARE.

Huell: WOW.

SO THAT'S A BIG DEAL.

>> THAT'S A BIG DEAL.

THAT IS A BIG DEAL.

>> [INDISTINCT CHATTERING] >> LET'S SEE THE NEXT BRAVE ONE, RIGHT THERE.

>> [INDISTINCT CHATTERING] [CHEERING] >> NICE JOB.

Huell: WOW!

HERE COMES NUMBER 3.

ALL RIGHT.

ISN'T THAT UNUSUAL, TO BE JUMPING A FIRE THAT BIG?

>> IT KIND OF IS, ACTUALLY.

THAT'S--THAT'S... Huell: KIND OF GUTSY.

>> IT'S A LITTLE GUTSY, AND IT'S NOT TRADITIONAL, BUT YOU KNOW, HEY, THEY'RE YOUNG.

Huell: [LAUGHS] >> [CHEERING] Huell: OHH!

>> [CHEERING] [INDISTINCT CHATTERING] [CHEERING] Huell: OK. WE GOT SOME FIRE JUMPERS RIGHT HERE.

>> SURE!

Huell: YOU DO THIS EVERY YEAR?

>> EVERY YEAR.

Huell: DO YOU HAVE TO PRACTICE TO DO IT, OR-- >> NO, I DON'T.

Huell: YOU JUST KNOW HOW TO DO IT?

>> YES.

[ALL TALKING AT ONCE] Huell: IS THERE A WAY TO DO IT?

>> WELL, IT'S VERY SIMPLE.

YOU GO LIKE THAT.

I CAN SHOW YOU HOW WE CAN DO IT.

Huell: ALL RIGHT.

LET'S SEE YOU DO IT.

>> OK. READY?

RUN!

Huell: WHOA!

WHOA!

WHOA!

VERY SIMPLE!

>> VERY SIMPLE, YES.

VERY SIMPLE.

THAT'S ONE-- Huell: WOW!

YOU DO THIS EVERY YEAR?

>> OH, YEAH.

Huell: DOES IT GET YOUR ADRENALINE... >> ABSOLUTELY.

Huell: TURN AROUND.

YOU'RE NOT SINGED ANYWHERE, ARE YOU?

>> [LAUGHTER] >> [CHEERING] [TECHNO MUSIC PLAYING] Huell: WHOA!

HERE HE GOES!

WHOA!

>> OH!

Huell: WHOA!

>> [CHEERING] Huell: YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU'RE OUT THERE-- >> I KNOW!

Huell: YOU ALMOST GET CAUGHT BY THE FIRE.

>> I KNOW!

I KIND OF--I WAS HESITATING, REALLY.

I WASN'T SURE IF I WAS GOING TO JUMP OR NOT.

BUT YOU KNOW, YOU JUST DO IT ONCE, SO.

Huell: HAVE YOU EVER DONE IT BEFORE?

>> SINCE I WAS A LITTLE KID, YEAH.

Huell: REALLY?

BUT NEVER A FIRE THIS BIG?

>> NOT THIS BIG.

NOW, I'VE DONE, LIKE, YOU KNOW, [INDISTINCT] WE USED TO BURN TIRES, USED TIRES.

BUT YEAH, THIS IS AMAZING.

THIS IS BIG.

Huell: WOW.

>> AND IT GETS YOU--YOU KNOW, YOU FEEL A LITTLE PUMPED UP.

EVERYBODY'S HERE WATCHING YOU, AND THEY'RE, LIKE, EXPECTING YOU TO DO A GOOD JUMP, SO.

Huell: YEAH.

>> YEAH, DEFINITELY.

Huell: WELL, CONGRATULATIONS.

YOUR NAME IS?

>> MAJID.

Huell: AND HE JUST JUMPED OVER THE FIRE PIT.

>> THANK YOU.

FIRE!

[TECHNO MUSIC PLAYING] Huell: WHOA!

IT'S AMAZING HOW THE ENERGY HAS BUILT UP.

>> DIDN'T I TELL YOU?

EMPTY BEACH, FULL DANCE CLUB.

Huell: WOW.

SO DANCING IS A BIG PART OF IT AS WELL?

>> IT'S TRADITION TO DANCE, BUT THIS KIND OF MUSIC, THIS IS MORE FOR THE YOUNGER PEOPLE AND-- Huell: YEAH, THIS ISN'T TRADITIONAL... >> IT'S CERTAINLY NOT TRADITIONAL, BUT IT'S PART OF THE FESTIVAL NOW.

Huell: SO, DANCING IS PART OF THE FESTIVAL, THOUGH.

IT'S PART OF THE JOY.

>> DANCING IS ALWAYS A PART OF THE JOY AND THE FESTIVAL.

THAT'S RIGHT.

Huell: WOW.

AND THEY ARE REALLY DANCING OUT HERE RIGHT NOW.

LISTEN TO THIS MUSIC!

[MIDDLE EASTERN DANCE MUSIC PLAYING] Huell: HAVE YOU JUMPED YET?

>> I HAVEN'T, NO.

Huell: ARE YOU IRANIAN?

>> NO, I'M NO.

SHE IS.

>> HE IS, BY ASSOCIATION.

Huell: ABSOLUTELY.

SO THIS IS ALL NEW TO YOU.

YOU'RE BEING INTRODUCED TO THIS CULTURE.

>> I AM, JUST TONIGHT.

YEAH.

Huell: AND WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS?

WHAT DID YOU EXPECT BEFORE YOU CAME TONIGHT?

>> I EXPECTED A LOT OF FIRE AND A LOT OF JUMPING AND A LOT OF GOOD FOOD, AND THAT'S WHAT'S GOING ON, I GUESS.

Huell: YEAH.

WELL, HE DOESN'T HAVE TO JUMP, DOES HE?

>> WELL, I MEAN--YEAH, HE DOES.

HE'S HERE.

>> [LAUGHTER] >> YOU, TOO.

YOU SHOULD JUMP, TOO.

Huell: SO EVERYBODY HAS TO JUMP?

>> YEAH.

I MEAN, THAT'S THE WHOLE IDEA OF IT.

YOU JUMP OVER THE FIRE.

THE IDEA IS THAT THE FIRE IS TAKING THE BAD FROM THIS PAST YEAR AND GIVING YOU THE GOOD FOR THIS NEXT YEAR, SO.

Huell: SO LET'S FIND A SMALLER FIRE.

WHAT DO YOU SAY?

>> THAT SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD IDEA.

Huell: AND JUMP, BECAUSE THE SIZE OF THE FIRE DOESN'T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE.

IT'S THE SYMBOLISM.

>> YEAH, EXACTLY.

Huell: IT COULD BE JUST OVER ONE LITTLE STICK BURNING.

>> YEAH!

>> SHE JUMPED OVER A CANDLE.

>> I DID IT OVER A CANDLE WHEN I WENT TO COLLEGE.

Huell: YOU'RE KIDDING!

>> NO.

Huell: SO JUMPING OVER A CANDLE IN YOUR DORM ROOM OR WHEREVER SERVED THE SAME PURPOSE?

>> YEAH, PRETTY MUCH.

THAT'S WHAT I DID.

Huell: SEE?

IT IS.

IT'S SYMBOLIC.

>> YEAH.

Huell: LET'S FIND A CANDLE!

>> OK!

I'M FOR IT.

LET'S GO!

Huell: OK. WE GOT A SPARKLER, SO SHE CAN JUMP OVER THE SPARKLER, RIGHT?

>> YEP.

Huell: ARE YOU READY?

>> YEAH, SURE.

Huell: LET ME GET OUT OF THE WAY.

HERE SHE GOES.

JUMP!

HERE YOU GO.

>> OK. [SPEAKS FARSI] >> WHOO!

Huell: YAY!

>> [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] >> YOU WANT TO TRY?

YOU GO.

Huell: I CAN DO THAT!

[INDISTINCT CHATTERING] Huell: WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO SAY?

>> YOU CAN SAY, UM.

>> [SPEAKING FARSI] SAY IT.

SOR-HE.

Huell: SOR-HE.

>> YE-TOH.

Huell: YE-TOH.

>> AZMAN.

Huell: AZMAN.

>> ZARDIRAMAN.

Huell: ZARDIRAMAN.

>> AZTOH.

Huell: AZTOH.

>> VERY GOOD.

>> AND THEN JUMP.

Huell: AND THEN JUMP.

HERE I GO!

>> JUMP!

>> YEAH!

>> [CHEERING] Huell: YAY!

YAY!

YOU DID IT!

>> YES, I DID!

WHY AREN'T YOU DOING IT?

Huell: WELL, I'M GOING TO, IN A MINUTE.

BUT HOW DO YOU FEEL?

>> I FEEL GREAT.

I HAD A ROUGH DAY, AND I'VE HAD SOME THINGS GOING ON THIS YEAR THAT I'M THROWING INTO THE FIRE, SO YEAH.

Huell: WOW.

SO SOME YEARS, IT MEANS MORE TO YOU THAN OTHERS?

>> IT DOES.

IT DOES.

IT'S VERY CLEANSING.

IT'S A CLEANSING HOLIDAY, SO IT'S NICE.

YEAH.

Huell: WOW.

SO YOU FEEL BETTER ALREADY?

>> I DO FEEL GOOD.

I DO.

Huell: JUST SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS WALKING OVER THE FIRE.

>> WELL, FIRE IS A NATURAL ELEMENT, AND SO, YOU KNOW, IT CLEANSES US.

Huell: OK. WE FINALLY FOUND A NICE, LITTLE FIRE TO JUMP OVER, AND WE GOT A WHOLE BUNCH OF PEOPLE HERE.

COME ON.

HERE WE GO.

>> [CHEERING] >> YEAH!

HUELL!

Huell: THERE WE GO!

YEAH!

YEAH!

COME ON!

>> HEY, THIS IS FOR YOU, HUELL!

Huell: THERE WE GO!

WOW.

LOOK AT THIS.

THIS IS MY KIND OF FIRE RIGHT HERE.

HERE HE COMES.

YEAH!

[LAUGHS] NOW, I'VE BEEN WATCHING PEOPLE JUMP THE FIRE TONIGHT, AND EVERYBODY'S DOING IT.

ALL AGES.

>> THE WHOLE FAMILY.

OLD, YOUNG, BOYS, GIRLS.

Huell: [LAUGHS] >> YOU KNOW?

Huell: ALL RELIGION.

>> ALL RELIGION.

ALL PERSIANS-- SOME NOT PERSIANS.

IT'S A FESTIVAL OF UNITY, IF YOU WILL.

Huell: YEAH.

SO THIS IS--IS THIS--WOULD YOU CALL THIS ONE OF THE MOST UNIFYING EVENTS OF YOUR CULTURE, IN A FUNNY KIND OF A WAY?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, THE WHOLE FESTIVAL OF NOWRUZ, WHICH THIS IS PART OF, AS WE DISCUSSED EARLIER TONIGHT-- Huell: NEW YEAR'S.

>> NEW YEAR'S, RIGHT--NOWRUZ, IN FARSI--THIS IS PART OF THAT.

AND THIS WHOLE FESTIVAL HAS A SENSE OF UNITY AND BELONGING TOGETHER AND BRINGING DIFFERENT PEOPLE AND DIFFERENT KINDS OF BACKGROUNDS TOGETHER.

[AIRCRAFT ROARING] Huell: YOU KNOW, I'M JUST WONDERING, WHEN PEOPLE ARE FLYING OVERHEAD LOOKING OUT OF THOSE JETS LEAVING LAX, AND THEY LOOK DOWN HERE AND SEE ALL OF THESE BONFIRES AND ALL OF THESE PEOPLE, WONDER WHAT THEY'RE THINKING?

>> "WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?"

EXACTLY.

Huell: WHAT IS GOING ON HERE!

>> INDEED.

Huell: WELL, IT'S BEEN QUITE A DAY, AND YOU WERE RIGHT--WHAT A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE THIS HAS BEEN.

>> I TOLD YOU, I KEEP MY PROMISES.

I JUST HOPE THAT YOU ENJOYED IT SO FAR AND YOU LEARNED SOMETHING NEW AND... Huell: WELL, THIS IS SO QUINTESSENTIALLY CALIFORNIA, TO HAVE SOMETHING LIKE THIS GOING ON ON THE BEACH.

I'VE LIVED HERE 25 YEARS AND NEVER KNEW THIS WENT ON DOWN HERE EVERY YEAR.

>> BELIEVE THIS--AN ANCIENT TRADITION, 4,000+ YEARS OLD, ON A CALIFORNIA BEACH.

Huell: YEAH!

AND IT WORKS, TOO, DOESN'T IT?

>> EXACTLY RIGHT.

Huell: EVERYBODY'S HAVING FUN.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

Huell: IT'S VERY ECUMENICAL.

YOU CAN BE CHRISTIAN, MOSLEM, JEWISH.

>> YOU CAN BE MARTIAN, BUDDHIST, WHATEVER YOU ARE.

BUT YOU'RE GOING TO ENJOY TONIGHT.

Huell: AND TAKE PART OF THIS, WHICH IS ONE OF THE OLDEST RELIGIOUS TRADITIONS ON THE FACE OF THIS EARTH.

>> THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.

THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.

Huell: ONCE AGAIN, IT'S CALLED... >> CHAHAR SHANBEH SOORI.

Huell: WHICH MEANS... >> FESTIVAL OF FIRE.

PERSIAN FESTIVAL OF FIRE.

Huell: THE PERSIAN FESTIVAL OF FIRE.

>> EXACTLY RIGHT.

Huell: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE.

Huell: WE HAVE HAD A WONDERFUL TIME LEARNING ABOUT OUR CULTURE, OUR HERITAGE-- >> THANK YOU.

Huell: AND WHAT HAPPENS RIGHT HERE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.

IT BRINGS IT ALL TOGETHER... >> THANKS SO MUCH, HUELL.

Huell: FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD.

JUMPING THE FIRE AS PART OF A VERY ANCIENT TRADITION.

>> ALL RIGHT, NOW.

WATCHING HUELL JUMP.

ALL RIGHT!

ALL RIGHT.

[MIDDLE EASTERN DANCE MUSIC PLAYING] [CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY KCET PUBLIC TELEVISION] [CAPTIONED BY THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE --www.ncicap.org--]