Persian Celebrations

NowRouzNowRouz, the Persian New Year
The Nowrouz celebration is an ancient, national Iranian custom. According to some Babylonian works, Achaemenid kings sat in the veranda of their palace during Nowrouz celebrations receiving representatives of different states who offered their precious gifts to the kings. It is said that Darius the Great, an Achaemenian king (421-486 B.C.), visited the temple of Ba'al Mardook, the great deity in ancient Babylon, at the outset of every new year. Today, Nowrouz is celebrated as splendidly as ever. Setting the Haftsin (Nowrouz table) and sitting around it at the turn of the year, wearing new garments, presenting Eidi (gifts of mint paper money) to children, sprinkling rose-water, eating sweets and celebrating sizdeh-be-dar (13th Farvardin or 2nd April) are practiced by Iranians, even those living abroad. Muslim Iranians light candles as a symbol of ancient Persians' respect for fire, and place the Holy Qur'an on the Nowrouz table to show their esteem for this divine book.

 Eid NowRouz

 

NowRouz, the Persian New Year

 

Sizdeh Bedar

 

Sizdeh Bedar , the Nature Day

 

MehreganMehregan, the Festival of Autumn
Mehregan Festival (Jashn-e-Mehregan) is one of the oldest and happiest Persian festivals. It is believed that Mehregan or Mithrakana festival was an ancient festival even for the Achaemenian kings. On the day of this great festival Darius identifies and destroys Gaumata, "the false Smerdis" and saves the Persian Empire. Mithra, a pre-Zoroastrian guardian angel, later taken as a Zoroastrian Yazata (Persian: Mehr Izad). Ancient Indo-Europeans believed Mithra to be the protector of covenants and green fields, as she was the destroyer of drought and famine. To them Mithra was symbolized by the first rays of sun at dawn. Mithrakana festival was celebrated by Achaemenian kings as followers of Zoroaster. Even an unproven theory exists that Achaemenian new year was celebrated on Mithrakana. Later Sassanian kings followed the same tradition with celebrating Mehregan on the month of Mehr and Mehr day.

 Mehregan

 

Mehregan, the Festival of Autumn

 

Shabe Yalda

Shabe YaldaShabe Yalda, the Festival of Winter
Shabe Yalda or Yalda Night is the 30th of the month Azar (21 Dec) and longest night of the year. Traditionally on this night the forces of Ahriman (devil) are at the peak of their strength. The next day, the first day of the month of ‘Dey’ known as ‘khoram rooz’ or ‘khore rooz’ (the day of sun) belongs to Ahura Mazda, the Lord of Wisdom. Since the days are getting longer and the nights shorter, this day marks the victory of Sun over darkness. On this night, the family gather for a large feast. Various dried fruits, nuts, seeds and fresh winter fruits are provided at these events to celebrate and pray to the deities to ensure the protection of the winter crops. Medieval poetry from Hafiz can be read and fortunes are told in the famous “Fal-e-Hafez” tradition.

 

Shabe Yalda, the Festival of Winter

 

Charshanbeh Suri

 

Charshanbeh Suri, the Festival of Fire

 

 

Persian Carpet, a symbol of art