DILUCAN BOZÎ - HESNA MIHEMED

Shehba/Kobanê –Êzidî people have faced 74 edicts in history but they have kept their culture alive despite all attacks on them. Red Wednesday (Çarşamê Sor) Holiday is one of the most sacred holidays of Êzidîs and this holiday symbolizes the rebirth of all life and the beginning of the world. This holiday is celebrated by Êzidîs annually in the second week of April.  They have celebrated this holiday everywhere they live. The never-forgotten image of the Red Wednesday is the colorfully painted eggs…

The first ritual is greeting the Sun

On Red Wednesday, Êzidîs wake up with the sunrise and they pray for the world by turning their faces to the sun. Then, they collect peonies to hang them on their houses’ doors. The peonies show that Êzidî people live in the house and they are celebrating Çarşamê Sor Holiday. After the first rituals, the families visit the graves of their loved ones and distribute food to people in the cemetery. Then, Êzidî people celebrate their holiday. On that day, Êzidîs don’t work and no one gets married this month.

Êzidîs from Afrin will celebrate it in Shehba

Êzidîs’ Union of Afrin Region Chairperson Suad Hiso noted that their belief shows a very scientific approach, “We celebrate the creation of the universe after the Big Bang explosion. We believe that water, fire, earth, and air, which make the world livable, were created on the Red Wednesday. We paint the eggs with the colors of life. We believe that April is a sacred month. In fact, many civilizations celebrate the creation of the world under different names and we celebrate it under the name of Çarşemê Sor in April.” Suad Hiso told us that displaced Êzidîs from Afrin will celebrate Çarşemê Sor in Shehba and that they have already completed their preparations.

“We give the painted eggs to our neighbors”

Fidan Emo is an Êzidî living in Kobanê. “Every year, we celebrate Çarşemê Sor Holiday. All attacks on us aim to destroy our culture and belief. When we lived in Afrin, we celebrated our holiday and we still celebrate it. That's why we get up early in the morning and paint eggs and bake desserts to celebrate Çarşemê Sor. Then, we give these painted eggs first to children and then to our neighbors. We paint the eggs with colors such as green, red, yellow, and white, the colors of the season.”

“We will protect our belief against attacks”

Fidan Emo pointed out that Êzidîs have survived from all assimilations and attacks, “As it is known, Daesh attacked Êzidîs in 2014 but these attacks were pushed back. We will protect our belief and culture against all attacks.”