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As far as cultural celebrations go, Chahr-ShanbehSouri — also known as the Festival of Fire — is pretty ancient. Dating back to at least 1700 BC, when it was celebrated by the early Zoroastrians far before the dawn of Islam in the Persian Empire, the festival is a purification rite that involves singing songs and jumping over bonfires. On Tuesday, Mar. 12, join the Persian Center (2029 Durant Ave., Berkeley) for a night of fire -- timeless, but safe enough for the 21st century. 6-10 p.m., free. 510-848-0264 PersianCenter.org