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The following is a list of festivals in
Iran Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also called Persia, is a country located in Western Asia. It is bordered by Iraq and Turkey to the west, by Azerbaijan and Armenia to the northwest, by the Caspian Sea and Turkm ...
.


Iranian festivals

* Noruz: ''no'' means new and the word ''ruz'' means day, so ''Nowruz'' means starting a new day and it is the Celebration of the start of spring (Rejuvenation). It starts on the first day of spring (also the first day of the Iranian Calendar year), 21 March, in that 12 days as a sign of the past 12 months, all Iranian families gather around and visit each other. It is also the best time to re-experience the feeling of ''mehr'' (pure love). In ''Norouz'' all families talk about their best experiences of the last year and the things they are looking forward in the next year and they all become bonded again in peace. There are many other things Iranians do for ''nowruz'' including ''khane tekani'' (cleaning the house) and ''haji firooz'', where a person who makes his face black and wears a red dress, walks around the streets and entertains people by singing a special song. * Sofre-ye Haft-Sin: ''sofre'' (tablecloth), ''haft'' (seven), ''sin'' (the letter S . Al-Bīrūnī said: Haft-sin came from Jamshid since he destroyed the evil that made Persian lands weak, so in first day of Iranian calendar people celebrated ''Norouz'' and they put 7 different symbolic items on their table as a sign of thanking nature for giving humans all they need. Since then every year Iranians put Haft-sin on their tables, but nowadays they put 7 things that start with letter "S ()". Some people also believe that Sasanians had a very beautiful plate that was given to them from China and they called it ''chini plate'', and after some years the word ''chini'' changed into ''sini'' (a beautiful plate) so people would put 7 things in a sini. *
Sizdah Bedar Sizdah Bedar ( fa, – ), (lit. 'Getting Rid of Thirteen') also known as Nature's Day ( – ), is an Iranian festival held annually on the thirteenth day of Farvardin (same as Aries), the first month of the Iranian calendar, during which peop ...
: Persian Festival of "Joy and Solidarity". The 13th and last day of Norouz celebration. Because of the end of twelve days (a sample of twelve month) they celebrate the 13th day as a new beginning of the next twelve month and it has no relations with the number 13 (as an unlucky number). It is celebrated outdoors along with the beauty of nature. Al-Bīrūnī also called this day: ''tir ruz'': blissed day. * Mehregan: Festival of ''Mehr'' (or ''
Mithra Mithra ( ae, ''Miθra'', peo, 𐎷𐎰𐎼 ''Miça'') commonly known as Mehr, is the Iranian deity of covenant, light, oath, justice and the sun. In addition to being the divinity of contracts, Mithra is also a judicial figure, an all-se ...
''). A day of thanksgiving. It is a day which everyone show the ''mehr'' or the love they have for each other and it is one of the most important days in the year. * Jashn-e Sade: A mid-winter feast to honor fire and to "defeat the forces of darkness, frost and cold" in which people gather around and build a fire so that they can receive good things from the fire and give the fire their incompleteness. * Shab-e Yalda: Also known as The turning point. End of the longest night (darkness) of the year, and beginning of growing of the days (Lights). A celebration of Good over Evil. Also known as they have special nuts for that night. * Sepandarmazgan: Day of Love, Friendship and Earth in ancient Persian culture. * Chaharshanbe Suri: Festival of Fire, last Wednesday night in the Iranian Calendar year. It marks the importance of the light over the darkness, arrival of spring and revival of nature.


Zoroastrianism

The basis of nearly all of Iranian national festivals are from its Pre-Islamic Zoroastrian era. However, there are some festivals that are celebrated exclusively by Zoroastrians and some with less extent in other communities too. * Khordadgân: Celebration of the 6th day of Iranian calendar. ''Khordad'' is one of the ''Izadans'' name which means completeness. In this day people used to go near the river or a sea to thank God for everything and they gave each other flowers as a sign of happiness. * Bahmanagân: Also maintained by Iranian Muslims until the Mongol invasion. The festival was celebrated on the second day of the month of Bahman. Bahmanjana is a later modified form of Bahmanagân. * Sepandarmazgân Bahmanagân: Esfandegān or Spandegān is the day of love. * Farvardingân: Festival of the ''Forouhar'' . * Jašne Sade: Festival of Fire. Lit. the 100th day (before Nowruz). * Jašne Mehregân: Festival of Mihr (or Mehr). A day of thanksgiving dedicated to the highest Angel,
Mithra Mithra ( ae, ''Miθra'', peo, 𐎷𐎰𐎼 ''Miça'') commonly known as Mehr, is the Iranian deity of covenant, light, oath, justice and the sun. In addition to being the divinity of contracts, Mithra is also a judicial figure, an all-se ...
(c.f. Metatron). * Jašne Tiregân: Festival of Tir. A day dedicated to
Tishtrya Tishtrya ( ave, 𐬙𐬌𐬱𐬙𐬭𐬌𐬌𐬀, Tištrya, fa, تیر, Tir) or Roozahang is the Avestan language name of a Zoroastrian benevolent divinity associated with life-bringing rainfall and fertility. Tishtrya is Tir in Middle- and Moder ...
, Angel of the star Sirius and rain. Also celebrated in some Muslim regions in Iran including Mazandaran. * Nowruz: New Year's Day. March (first day of Spring). *
Khordad Sal Khordad Sal ( fa, خرداد روز) is the birth anniversary (or birthdate) of Zarathushtra. Zoroastrians all over the world, especially the Parsis of India, celebrate the day in a great glamor. Parties and ghambars are held. Special prayers and ...
: Birthday of the Prophet Zarathushtra. * Zartosht No-Diso: Anniversary commemorating the death of the Prophet Zarathushtra. * Azargân: The day of fire commonly held by Zoroastrians in their Fire Temples. * Abanegân: A celebration for the goddess Naheed (Anahita). * Amordadegân: without Death


Islamic

* Eid-e Fetr: "The Festival of Fast-Breaking" which comes at the end of Ramadan. People give gifts and money to the poor, the sick and others. ** Ramadan (Ramazan in Persian): Iranians have special recipes as Zoolbia-Bamieh, Shole Zard, Ferni, Halva and Ash Reshteh in Ramezan. * Nimeh Şaabân: celebration for the twelfth and final Shi'a Imam. The festival consists of some fireworks and decorating the cities with lights, bulbs and trees. * Shab-e Qadr: the "Night of Qadr" towards the end of Ramadan, which is when the first verses of the Qur'an were revealed to Muhammad. Iranians stay awake during the nights and some light candles and listen to Dua while reciting the Qur'an. * Eid-e Qurban: "The Festival of Sacrifice". In Iran, some wealthy people and farmers sacrifice their herds and offer the meat to neighbors and the poor as charity. * Eid-e Ghadir Khumm: is a Shia feast, and is considered to be among the "significant" feasts of
Shia Islam Shīʿa Islam or Shīʿīsm is the second-largest branch of Islam. It holds that the Islamic prophet Prophets in Islam ( ar, الأنبياء في الإسلام, translit=al-ʾAnbiyāʾ fī al-ʾIslām) are individuals in Islam who are ...
. The Eid is held on 18 Dhu Al-Hijjah at the time when the Islamic prophet
Muhammad Muhammad ( ar, مُحَمَّد;  570 – 8 June 632 CE) was an Arab religious, social, and political leader and the founder of Islam. According to Islamic doctrine, he was a prophet divinely inspired to preach and confirm the monot ...
(following instruction from Allah) was said to have appointed Ali ibn Abi Talib as his successor. * Shiite and Sunni unity week for the birth of the Prophet of Islam: 12-17 Rabiʽ al-Awwal * Birth of Hasan ibn Ali: 15 Ramadan * Birth of Husayn ibn Ali: 3 Sha'ban * Birth of Ali ibn Husayn Zayn al-Abidin: 5 Sha'ban * Birth of Ali al-Akbar ibn Husayn (Young Day): 11 Sha'ban * Birth of Ali ibn Abi Talib: 13 Rajab * Fatimah bint Musa birthday (Girl's Day): 1 taste * Birth of Ali al-Ridha: 11 Dhu al-Qadah * Eid al-Fitr of the Prophet of Islam: 27 Rajab * Celebrating the beginning of the Imamate of Muhammad al-Mahdi: 9th of Rabiʽ al-Awwal * Marriage celebration of Ali ibn Abi Talib and Fatimah: 1 Dhu al-Hijjah


Christian

The majority of Iranian Christians are Armenian-Iranians also known as ''Parska-Hye'' who follow the
Armenian Apostolic Church , native_name_lang = hy , icon = Armenian Apostolic Church logo.svg , icon_width = 100px , icon_alt = , image = Էջմիածնի_Մայր_Տաճար.jpg , imagewidth = 250px , a ...
, an
Oriental Orthodox The Oriental Orthodox Churches are Eastern Christian churches adhering to Miaphysite Christology, with approximately 60 million members worldwide. The Oriental Orthodox Churches are part of the Nicene Christian tradition, and represent ...
branch of Christianity. This minority has their very own special festivals and traditions. There is also a significant minority of Assyrian people who follow the Oriental Orthodox Christian
Assyrian Church of the East The Assyrian Church of the East,, ar, كنيسة المشرق الآشورية sometimes called Church of the East, officially the Holy Apostolic Catholic Assyrian Church of the East,; ar, كنيسة المشرق الآشورية الرسول� ...
and the Chaldean Catholic Church, these two church groups also have a minority of Persian followers. The followers of this church have a blend of Persian and Assyrian culture. Iran has an overwhelmingly Muslim population but the Christian Community has a visible presence. During Christmas times, Christmas trees can be seen from windows in Tehran and north-western provinces. Although Christmas has an official recognition in Iran, it is not a national holiday.


Jewish

* Purim Festival * Illanout (tree festival) Celebrated in February, it is identical to Shab-e Cheleh and is a lot more elaborate, reminiscence of the pre-Islamic celebrations * Shab-e Sal, lit. ''Night of the Year'': The night of the end of Passover, when chametz can once again be eaten. It is usually celebrated with many types of breads and dairy items. This festival is unique to Persian Jews due to the holiday’s proximity to Nowruz and is not celebrated in this way by most other Jews, just as the holiday itself is celebrated in a fashion unique to Persian Jews, Shab-e Sal has similarities to the Moroccan Jewish holiday
Mimouna Mimouna ( he, מימונה, ar, ميمونة, Berber: Mimuna, ⵎⵉⵎⵓⵏⴰ) is a traditional Maghrebi Jewish celebration dinner, that currently takes place in Morocco, Israel, France, Canada, and other places around the world where Jews of ...
. The day after Passover is similarly known as Rooz-e Sal.


Unofficial

* New Year's Day * Valentine's Day * Halloween


References


Bibliography

* Shirzad Aghaee, ''Nouruz - Berliyan-negin-e jashnha-yi irani va digar jashnha va jashn-aiyinha-yi mardomi-yi iran'' (
Nouruz Nowruz ( fa, نوروز, ; ), zh, 诺鲁孜节, ug, نەۋروز, ka, ნოვრუზ, ku, Newroz, he, נורוז, kk, Наурыз, ky, Нооруз, mn, Наурыз, ur, نوروز, tg, Наврӯз, tr, Nevruz, tk, Nowruz, ...
and other Iranian National Festivals), Stockholm, Sweden, 2002. * Festivals in Encyclopædia Iranica
Iran Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also called Persia, is a country located in Western Asia. It is bordered by Iraq and Turkey to the west, by Azerbaijan and Armenia to the northwest, by the Caspian Sea and Turkm ...
Festivals
Iran Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also called Persia, is a country located in Western Asia. It is bordered by Iraq and Turkey to the west, by Azerbaijan and Armenia to the northwest, by the Caspian Sea and Turkm ...
Iran Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also called Persia, is a country located in Western Asia. It is bordered by Iraq and Turkey to the west, by Azerbaijan and Armenia to the northwest, by the Caspian Sea and Turkm ...
Iran Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also called Persia, is a country located in Western Asia. It is bordered by Iraq and Turkey to the west, by Azerbaijan and Armenia to the northwest, by the Caspian Sea and Turkm ...
Iran Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also called Persia, is a country located in Western Asia. It is bordered by Iraq and Turkey to the west, by Azerbaijan and Armenia to the northwest, by the Caspian Sea and Turkm ...
Iran Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also called Persia, is a country located in Western Asia. It is bordered by Iraq and Turkey to the west, by Azerbaijan and Armenia to the northwest, by the Caspian Sea and Turkm ...
Festivals