Sema
What is The Ezidi New Year “Ser Sal” celebrated by the Ezidis? The Ezidi New year or Çarşema Nisane in Kurdish, is the Ezidi New Year and falls on the first Wednesday of April each year according to the Eastern calendar, which is 13 days behind the Western calendar.
Ezidis celebrate this occasion in their communities across Syria, Iraq, Turkey, Gorgia, and in various regions of Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, Russia, as well as many European countries—especially Germany.
Why is it called Çarşema Nisane ?
According to Ezidi belief, it is called Çarşema Nisane because on this day God infused life into the body of Adam—his flesh was completed, blood began to flow, and life on Earth was brought into being.
It is also associated with the blooming of red anemone flowers on Wednesday morning. For this reason, Ezidis decorate their homes and surroundings with these flowers, known as the “April flower,” as a symbol of life, renewal, and the beauty of spring.
Festival Lamps
According to Ezidi beliefs, God completed the creation of the universe on the first Wednesday of April, which is why Red Wednesday is described as the Day of Creation.
In preparation for the celebration, men and women press olives at the sacred Lalish Temple—the spiritual center of the Ezidi faith—on the morning of the feast. They then light 365 lamps, representing the days of the year, using pure olive oil.
Rituals of The Ezidi New Year (Çarşema Nisane)
Red Wednesday is regarded as the day of the emergence of creation and the beginning of the universe in Ezidi belief. It is therefore considered a sacred and blessed occasion. On this day, Ezidis wake up early, wear their finest traditional clothes, and decorate their homes with red anemone flowers and lights.
Those who are able also offer a sacrifice (qurban), which may be a sheep, calf, goat, or similar animal, as an act of devotion and gratitude.
Young women and men prepare by coloring 12 boiled eggs, with every three eggs representing one of the four seasons. The eggs are placed in a dish at the center of the home. In Ezidi symbolism, the egg represents the Earth’s shape; boiling the egg symbolizes the Earth’s solidified state, the shell represents the melting of ice from the Earth’s surface, and the bright colors symbolize spring and the beginning of life.
On the Tuesday preceding the feast, people visit the graves of their loved ones, bringing fruits and sweets to distribute to children and the poor.
On this day, agricultural work such as plowing is avoided so that nature can carry out its own process of renewal and blooming.
Ezidis also avoid marriages during April, believing it may bring misfortune. In their tradition, April is considered the “bride of the year,” unmatched by any other month in beauty and sanctity.
Relationship with Tawûsî Melek (Peacock Angel)
Ezidis believe that Tawûsî Melek (the Chief of the Angels) was sent by God to the barren Earth to bring life into it through water and soil, causing colors, nature, and vitality to flourish. According to their belief, this event took place on a Wednesday, which is why Red Wednesday holds such sacred significance in their tradition.
Ezidis consider this feast one of the oldest celebrations on Earth, as it is closely linked to life, fertility, and creation itself.
Four celebrations within one feast
Red Wednesday is seen as a combination of four symbolic celebrations in Ezidi belief:
The explosion of the White Pearl (cosmic creation):
The universe began from a divine “call,” forming the four sacred elements—earth, water, air, and fire.
The boiling of the Earth:
Symbolized by boiling eggs, representing the Earth’s transformation from a frozen state into a living, green world after creation.
The Feast of Creation:
The moment when God infused life into the first human body—Adam—marking the beginning of human existence.
The Feast of Fertility:
Represented by the egg as a symbol of the first living being and the renewal of life.
Fire is considered sacred in Ezidi tradition because it represents light and truth, while darkness is associated with ignorance and negativity. For this reason, lamps are lit during the feast to spread light and blessings.
Throughout history, Ezidis have sometimes been misunderstood and accused of “fire worship” by surrounding communities due to their reverence for fire as a sacred symbol of light and purity. make it 4 slides