Shaking The House
At the end of the year, Iranians perform a Khaneh Takani, literally shaking the house, to prepare for the new year. The process includes not only deep cleaning but also throwing away broken pots and plates, irreparable furniture, and torn or unused clothing. Rugs were beaten to remove dust, nooks and crannies were cleaned and patched, half-finished projects were either completed or tossed, and cluttered rooms were straightened. In the older times, when people still had home-made mattresses, the cotton filling was aired, and a new cover was sewn onto the mattresses and quilts.
The physical cleaning was extended to spiritual cleaning. People reached out to those they had quarreled with or had a grudge against, visited the graves of their loved ones, and settled their debts in a rush to start the new year with a clean slate. Some merchants even went as far as forgiving small debts. Ritually, people celebrated this spiritual cleansing by jumping over fire on the last Tuesday of the old year, taking the fire’s energy and symbolically burning their ills in it. When I was in high school, some of us fed our unwanted notes, especially those given out by an unpopular teacher, to the fire.
As we all face a new year, let us follow the ancient Iranians’ ritual, and clean not only our houses, but also our souls of regret, envy, and grudges. Let us finish what we have started, reach out to a neglected friend or older relative. Let us begin the year with a clean slate.
Happy New Year!
A Year of Silenced Whispers
This year, Silenced Whispers was shared through engaging conversation. The book was presented at libraries, bookstores, universities, conferences, and community spaces in Camden, Boston, Wellesley, Concord, Washington, DC, Atlanta, and beyond. Each event brought thoughtful questions and audiences, creating space for reflection on history, memory, and women’s experiences. Through talks, community gatherings, and media conversations, Silenced Whispers continued to reach readers beyond the page. The Fowler talk this month was a success, and we look forward to engaging with more readers in 2026!
In addition to Silence Whispers, Afarin’s chapter, Smart Agents are Coming: Should we let them decide for us?, is scheduled to be published in L.S. Swan’s book, How is AI Transforming Human Nature and Society? by Springer in early 2026
Upcoming Events
Thursday, Jan. 29 2026 @ 5:30 PM - Author talk at Portland Public Library, 5 Monument Sq, Portland, ME
Wednesday. May 6th, 2026 @ 5 PM- Author talk at Ferguson Library, Stamford, CT., 1 Public Library Plaza, Stamford, CT 06901
The series “Library Talks” offers something fresh each time on Iranian modernization, its relevance today, and how my novel, Silenced Whispers, portrays this pivotal era. This format encourages returning guests to discover new insights at every talk. The event will conclude with a Q&A session and book signing. We would love to extend this to other communities. Please contact us if your local library is interested.
Until next time;
-Afarin & Team
Beautifully written and interesting