"Journalist Ramita Navai has observed: Despite the revolution, Iranians are inordinately proud of the great Persian empire, and it’s still part of the culture. The biggest festival in Iran is Persenia, which is Zoroastrian. It’s the first day of spring and has nothing to do with religion. Although it’s interesting, because the state has got involved with these pagan, Zoroastrian traditions and has tried to hijack them and claim them for their own. Like the early Christians did with pagan, Celtic mythology. So, for example, at Persian New Year, you set a table called haftsin. People lay out seven objects all starting with the letter sin. . . . Most secular Iranians will also put out a book of Hafiz’s poetry. But the state encourages Iranians to put the Koran on the table. There is also chaharshanbeh souri, a fire festival celebrated on the last Tuesday night of the year. Bonfires are lit in the hope that fire and light will bring health and happiness. Young Iranians go crazy, setting off fireworks and jumping over the fires while reciting an old Zoroastrian saying. It’s a bit like Guy Fawkes night, in England. The state always gets nervous about this fire festival. But try as they might, they haven’t been able to stamp it out. It’s an ancient Zoroastrian tradition."