
Esfand
Mïäï
विवरण
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In Episode #39, co-hosts Beata and Bita talk about their experiences and memories of burning esfand (also called espand) - the customs and rituals around it - and some modern takes on burning rue and/or sage. This is the first of a series of shorter “Micro” episodes for the summer. </span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">What is esfand?</span></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">A wild rue resembling small dark pebble</span></li> </ul> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">When/why is it burned?</span></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">To ward off evil spirits/the evil eye (in Farsi, “cheshm bad”)</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">For good luck/good energy</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Some believe to disinfect the area or the room</span></li> </ul> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Tools needed/methods to burn</span></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">In a special esfand burner - metal with a handle</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">In folded, thick tin foil</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">With a special spiral tool on a wand to dip into a jar of esfand</span></li> </ul> <p> </p> <p><strong>Ask the Beats!</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Bita and Beata are skipping the ask the beats section in the shorter, summer version micro episodes. Be sure to keep the questions, ideas, and topics of interest coming as they will pick up with the segment in the fall.</span></p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Resources and recipes from this episode:</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">All Modern Persian Food episodes can be found at:</span> <a href= "https://modern