Persian New Year Is Coming Up

People think of spring as a time or rebirth and the promise of relief from cold. But to many countries in Central Asia, especially Iran Afghanistan and Tajikistan, there’s more to it than that. The arrival of spring is all about a long lasting tradition, a celebration rooted in history and the glorification of growth. For the Iranian people, years begin at Iranian New Year which is widely known as Nowruz on March 21. Nowruz is a time for families to be together. Wherever they are, people are expected to be home to celebrate the festival with their families.  Want to know more about our traditions during Nowruz? Follow our stories and posts in the upcoming days.

Happy Sepandarmazgan: Persian Day of Love

Persians have a rich culture with many great feasts based on natural occasions that have been mixed up with happiness and joy. According to Iranian tradition, the day of Sepandarmazgan was held in the Great Persian Empire in the 20th century BC. Sepandarmazgan is the celebration day of Love, Friendship and Earth in ancient Persian culture. Sepandarmaz is Earth Guardian Goddess and it is the symbol of humbleness, it means modest toward the entire creation. In the feast of Sepandarmazgan, Earth was worshiped and women venerated. On this day, Women and girls sat on the throne and men and boys had to obey them and bring them presents and gifts. In this way, men were reminded to acclaim and respect women. This celebration, which is much older than Valentine's Day, is on the 5th of Esfand in the Zoroastrian calendar, and in the new Iranian calendar is on 29^th  Bahman or 18th February.

 Sepandarmazgan: Persian Day of Love

Sade Festival in Iran

To visit Iran is to immerse yourself in a different environment. Every region throughout Iran has its own customs and traditions and they have been practiced in Iran for hundreds of years. It can truly be said that Iran is replete with traditions that emphasize their regional identity and differences. Visiting Iran during any holiday is an exciting and enthralling adventure that visitors will never forget.  

The "Sadeh" celebration is the largest celebration of fire and one of the oldest rituals known in ancient Persia. It is a festivity to honor fire and to defeat the forces of darkness, frost and cold. Until the Arab invasion of Iran in the seventh century, most Iranians in the powerful Persian Empire were Zoroastrians, who celebrated the feast at the start of the 30^th January.

The festival is held as a gathering of a city’s dwellers where a big fire is set. The observers help each other gather firewood, making the festival a celebration for cooperation and empathy between people. Today, the fires are not lit outside and all activities take place inside the shrines. The wood gathering activities are reduced though there are efforts to preserve them. However the bulk of the Iranians are becoming more familiar with the occasion. Current Zoroastrians recites various songs and hymns along with flames according to their language and culture. Also, in some areas, they also perform celebrations, games and group shows. Nowadays, the festivities of Sade is held sporadically in some cities and villages of Mazandaran, Lorestan, Sistan and Baloochestan, But in the most cities of Kerman and Yazd provinces, it is celebrated with magnificent glory.

Sade Celebration, Iran