The following list is a list of festivals in

Iran Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) and also known as Persia, is a country in West Asia. It borders Iraq to the west, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Armenia to the northwest, the Caspian Sea to the north, Turkmenistan to the nort ...

Iranian cultural festivals

Nowruz Nowruz (, , () , () , () , () , Kurdish language, Kurdish: () , () , () , () , , , , () , , ) is the Iranian or Persian New Year. Historically, it has been observed by Iranian peoples, but is now celebrated by many ...

: The word of "Norouz" includes two parts; "no" that means "new" and "ruz OR rouz" which 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 to visit each other. Haft Seen 1394 01

* Sofre-ye Haft-Sin: ''sofre'' (tablecloth), ''haft'' (seven), ''sin'' (the letter S �.

Al-Bīrūnī Abu Rayhan Muhammad ibn Ahmad al-Biruni (; ; 973after 1050), known as al-Biruni, was a Khwarazmian Iranian scholar and polymath during the Islamic Golden Age. He has been called variously "Father of Comparative Religion", "Father of modern ...

said: Haft-sin came from

Jamshid Jamshid () (, ''Jamshēd''; Middle- and New Persian: جم, ''Jam''), also known as ''Yima'' (Avestan: 𐬫𐬌𐬨𐬀 ''Yima''; Persian/Pashto: یما ''Yama''), is the fourth Shah of the mythological Pishdadian dynasty of Iran according to ' ...

since he destroyed the evil that made Persian lands weak, so on the 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 ()". *

Sizdah Bedar Sizdah Bedar (), also known as Nature's Day (, ), is an annual Iranian festival held thirteen days after Nowruz, which is on the thirteenth day of Farvardin, the first month of the Iranian calendar (and the first month of spring), during which pe ...

: 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). *

Mehregan Mehregan () or Jashn-e Mehr ( ''Mithra Festival'') is a Zoroastrianism, Zoroastrian and Iranian peoples, Iranian festival celebrated to honor the yazata Mithra (), which is responsible for friendship, affection and love. Name "Mehregan" is ...

: Festival of ''Mehr'' (or ''

Mithra Mithra ( ; ) is an ancient Iranian deity ('' yazata'') of covenants, light, oaths, justice, the Sun, contracts, and friendship. In addition to being the divinity of contracts, Mithra is also a judicial figure, an all-seeing protector of Truth ( ...

''). A day of thanksgiving. It is a day which everyone shows 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 assist the revival of the sun to bring back warmth and summer. * Shab-e Yalda: Also known as The turning point. End of the longest night of the year, and beginning of growing of the days. * Sepandarmazgan: Day of Love, Friendship and Earth in ancient Persian culture. *

Chaharshanbe Suri Chaharshanbeh Suri or Charshanbeh Suri or Chahar shanbe suri (; ), is an Iranian peoples, Iranian festival of the fire dance celebrated on the eve of the last Wednesday of the year, of ancient Zoroastrian origin. It is the first festivity of No ...

: Festival of Fire, last Wednesday night in the Iranian Calendar year.

Religious festivals

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,

. * Jašne Tiregân: Festival of Tir. A day dedicated to

Tishtrya Tishtrya (; ) is the Avestan name of a Zoroastrian benevolent divinity associated with life-bringing rainfall and fertility. Tishtrya is Tir in Middle- and Modern Persian. As has been judged from the archaic context in which Tishtrya appears in t ...

, Angel of the star Sirius and rain. Also celebrated in some Muslim regions in Iran including

Mazandaran Mazandaran Province (; ) is one of the 31 provinces of Iran. Its capital is the city of Sari, Iran, Sari. Located along the southern coast of the Caspian Sea and in the adjacent Central Alborz mountain range and Hyrcanian forests, it is border ...

. *

New Year's Day In the Gregorian calendar, New Year's Day is the first day of the calendar year, January 1, 1 January. Most solar calendars, such as the Gregorian and Julian calendars, begin the year regularly at or near the December solstice, northern winter ...

. March (first day of Spring). *

Khordad Sal Khordad Sal () is the birth anniversary (or birthdate) of Zarathushtra. Zoroastrians all over the world. It is celebrated annually on 26 March (5th day after Nowruz). Parties and ghambars are held. Special prayers and jashan are also held throu ...

: Birthday of the Prophet

Zarathushtra Zarathushtra Spitama, more commonly known as Zoroaster or Zarathustra, was an Iranian religious reformer who challenged the tenets of the contemporary Ancient Iranian religion, becoming the spiritual founder of Zoroastrianism. Variously descr ...

. *

Zartosht No-Diso Zartosht no-diso, or Zarthost no deeso, is an important day of remembrance in the Zoroastrian religion. It is a commemoration of the death anniversary of the prophet Zoroaster. It is observed on the 11th day (Khorshed) of the 10th month ( Dae). ...

: 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 Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. It is observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting (''Fasting in Islam, sawm''), communal prayer (salah), reflection, and community. It is also the month in which the Quran is believed ...

(Ramazan in Persian): Iranians have special recipes as Zoolbia-Bamieh, Shole Zard, Ferni,

Halva Halva (also halvah, halwa, halua, and other spellings; ) is a type of confectionery that is widely spread throughout the Middle East and North Africa, Eastern Europe and the Balkans, Central Asia, and South Asia. The name is used for a broad va ...

and

Ash Reshteh ''Ash reshteh'' or a''sh-e-reshteh'' () is a type of ''āsh'' (Iranian thick soup) featuring reshteh (thin noodles), kidney beans, chick peas, herbs, and kashk (a sour dairy product, made from cooked or dried yogurt) commonly made in Iran. Hot, f ...

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 Shia Islam is the second-largest Islamic schools and branches, branch of Islam. It holds that Muhammad in Islam, Muhammad designated Ali ibn Abi Talib () as both his political Succession to Muhammad, successor (caliph) and as the spiritual le ...

. The Eid is held on 18

Dhu Al-Hijjah Dhu al-Hijjah (also Dhu al-Hijja ) is the twelfth and final month in the Islamic calendar. Being one of the four sacred months during which war is forbidden, it is the month in which the '' Ḥajj'' () takes place as well as Eid al-Adha (). T ...

at the time when the Islamic prophet

Muhammad Muhammad (8 June 632 CE) was an Arab religious and political leader and the founder of Islam. Muhammad in Islam, According to Islam, he was a prophet who was divinely inspired to preach and confirm the tawhid, monotheistic teachings of A ...

(following instruction from Allah) was said to have appointed

Ali ibn Abi Talib Ali ibn Abi Talib (; ) was the fourth Rashidun caliph who ruled from until Assassination of Ali, his assassination in 661, as well as the first imamate in Shia doctrine, Shia Imam. He was the cousin and son-in-law of the Islamic prophet Muha ...

as his successor. *

Shiite Shia Islam is the second-largest branch of Islam. It holds that Muhammad designated Ali ibn Abi Talib () as both his political successor (caliph) and as the spiritual leader of the Muslim community (imam). However, his right is understood ...

and

Sunni Sunni Islam is the largest branch of Islam and the largest religious denomination in the world. It holds that Muhammad did not appoint any successor and that his closest companion Abu Bakr () rightfully succeeded him as the caliph of the Mu ...

unity week for the birth of the Prophet of Islam: 12-17

Rabiʽ al-Awwal Rabiʽ al-Awwal (, also known as Rabi' al-Ula (), or Rabi' I) is the third month of the Islamic calendar. The name ''Rabī‘ al-awwal'' means "''the first month'' or ''beginning of spring''", referring to its position in the pre-Islamic Arab ...

* Birth of

Hasan ibn Ali Hasan ibn Ali (; 2 April 670) was an Alids, Alid political and religious leader. The eldest son of Ali and Fatima and a grandson of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, Hasan briefly ruled as Rashidun caliphate, Rashidun caliph from January 661 unt ...

: 15

* Birth of

Husayn ibn Ali Husayn ibn Ali (; 11 January 626 – 10 October 680 Common Era, CE) was a social, political and religious leader in early medieval Arabia. The grandson of the Islamic prophet Muhammad and an Alids, Alid (the son of Ali ibn Abu Talib ibn Abd a ...

: 3

Sha'ban Shaʽban ( ') is the eighth month of the Islamic calendar. It is called the month of 'separation', as the word means 'to disperse' or 'to separate' because the pagan Arabs used to disperse in search of water. The fifteenth night of this month ...

* Birth of

Ali ibn Husayn Zayn al-Abidin Ali ibn al-Husayn al-Sajjad (, – 712), also known as Zayn al-Abidin () was the great-grandson of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, and the fourth imam in Shia Islam, succeeding his father, Husayn ibn Ali, his uncle, Hasan ibn Ali, and his gr ...

: 5

* Birth of

Ali al-Akbar ibn Husayn Ali al-Akbar ibn al-Husayn (), commonly known as simply Ali al-Akbar, was the son of Layla bint Abi Murra and Husayn ibn Ali, the third Shia imam and the grandson of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. Aged between eighteen and twenty-five, Ali wa ...

(Young Day): 11

* Birth of

: 13

Rajab Rajab () is the seventh month of the Islamic calendar. The lexical definition of the classical Arabic verb ''rajaba'' is "to respect", which could also mean "be awe or be in fear", of which Rajab is a derivative. This month is regarded as one ...

Fatimah bint Musa Fatima bint Musa (), circa 790–816 CE, commonly known as Fatima al-Ma'suma (), was the daughter of Musa al-Kazim () and sister of Ali al-Rida (), the seventh and eighth Imams in Twelver Shia. A young Fatima left her hometown of Medina in abo ...

birthday (Girl's Day): 1

taste The gustatory system or sense of taste is the sensory system that is partially responsible for the perception of taste. Taste is the perception stimulated when a substance in the mouth biochemistry, reacts chemically with taste receptor cells l ...

* Birth of

Ali al-Ridha Ali al-Rida (, 1 January 766 – 6 June 818), also known as Abū al-Ḥasan al-Thānī, was a descendant of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, and the eighth imam in Twelver Shia Islam, succeeding his father, Musa al-Kazim. He is also part of th ...

: 11

Dhu al-Qadah Dhu al-Qa'dah (, ', ), also spelled Dhu al-Qi'dah or Zu al-Qa'dah, is the eleventh month in the Islamic calendar. It could possibly mean "possessor or owner of the sitting and seating place" - the space occupied while sitting or the manner of t ...

* Eid al-Fitr of the Prophet of Islam: 27

* Celebrating the beginning of the Imamate of

Muhammad al-Mahdi Muhammad al-Mahdi () is believed by the Twelver Shia to be the last of the Twelve Imams and the eschatological Mahdi, who will emerge in the end of time to establish peace and justice and redeem Islam. Hasan al-Askari, the eleventh Imam ...

: 9th of

* Marriage celebration of

and

Fatimah Fatima bint Muhammad (; 605/15–632 CE), commonly known as Fatima al-Zahra' (), was the daughter of the Islamic prophet Muhammad and his wife Khadija bint Khuwaylid, Khadija. Fatima's husband was Ali, the fourth of the Rashidun caliphs and ...

: 1

Dhu al-Hijjah Dhu al-Hijjah (also Dhu al-Hijja ) is the twelfth and final month in the Islamic calendar. Being one of the four sacred months during which war is forbidden, it is the month in which the '' Ḥajj'' () takes place as well as Eid al-Adha (). T ...

Christian

The majority of Iranian Christians are Armenian-Iranians also known as ''Parska-Hye'' who follow the

Armenian Apostolic Church The Armenian Apostolic Church () is the Autocephaly, autocephalous national church of Armenia. Part of Oriental Orthodoxy, it is one of the most ancient Christianity, Christian churches. The Armenian Apostolic Church, like the Armenian Catholic ...

, an

Oriental Orthodox The Oriental Orthodox Churches are Eastern Christianity, Eastern Christian churches adhering to Miaphysitism, Miaphysite Christology, with approximately 50 million members worldwide. The Oriental Orthodox Churches adhere to the Nicene Christian ...

branch of Christianity. This minority has their very own special festivals and traditions. There is also a significant minority of

Assyrian people Assyrians (, ) are an ethnic group Indigenous peoples, indigenous to Mesopotamia, a geographical region in West Asia. Modern Assyrians Assyrian continuity, share descent directly from the ancient Assyrians, one of the key civilizations of Mesop ...

who follow the Oriental Orthodox Christian

Assyrian Church of the East The Assyrian Church of the East (ACOE), sometimes called the Church of the East and officially known as the Holy Apostolic Catholic Assyrian Church of the East, is an Eastern Christianity, Eastern Syriac Christianity, Syriac Christian denomin ...

and the

Chaldean Catholic Church The Chaldean Catholic Church is an Eastern Catholic Churches, Eastern Catholic Catholic particular churches and liturgical rites, particular church (''sui iuris'') in full communion with the Holy See and the rest of the Catholic Church, and is ...

, these two church groups also have a minority of Persian followers. The followers of this church have a blend of Persian and

Assyrian culture Assyrian culture is not only distinct in that it is different from the neighboring ethnic groups of the Assyrian homeland, but that many of its unique traits trace back to their ancient heritage in Mesopotamia. Many Assyrians (estimates of fluen ...

. Iran has a large and fast growing Christian community gaining popularity amongst Persians. 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

Iranian Jews celebrate all the same holidays as Jews worldwide, but often maintain unique customs in the observance of those holidays. Some more uniquely Iranian traditions include: *

Purim Purim (; , ) is a Jewish holidays, Jewish holiday that commemorates the saving of the Jews, Jewish people from Genocide, annihilation at the hands of an official of the Achaemenid Empire named Haman, as it is recounted in the Book of Esther (u ...

is particularly special among Jews in Iran because it recounts the story of a Jewish queen married to a Persian king in

Susa Susa ( ) was an ancient city in the lower Zagros Mountains about east of the Tigris, between the Karkheh River, Karkheh and Dez River, Dez Rivers in Iran. One of the most important cities of the Ancient Near East, Susa served as the capital o ...

, Iran and the central figures of the story Mordechai and Esther are customarily believed to be buried in

Hamedan Hamadan ( ; , ) is a mountainous city in western Iran. It is located in the Central District of Hamadan County in Hamadan province, serving as the capital of the province, county, and district. As of the 2016 Iranian census, it had a po ...

* Illanout (tree festival) Celebrated in February, it is nearly 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 ''Chametz'' (also ''chometz'', ', ''ḥameṣ'', ''ḥameç'' and other spellings Transliteration, transliterated from ; ) are foods with leavening agents that are forbidden to Jews on the holiday of Passover. ''Chametz'' is a product that is b ...

can once again be eaten. It is usually celebrated with many types of breads and dairy items. This festival is unique to

Persian Jews Iranian Jews, (; ) also Persian Jews ( ) or Parsim, constitute one of the oldest communities of the Jewish diaspora. Dating back to the History of ancient Israel and Judah, biblical era, they originate from the Jews who relocated to Iran (his ...

due to the holiday’s proximity to

and is not celebrated in this way by most other Jews. The day after Passover is similarly known as Rooz-e Sal, which would often involve outdoor picnics similar to

Sizdah Be-dar Sizdah Bedar (), also known as Nature's Day (, ), is an annual Iranian festival held thirteen days after Nowruz, which is on the thirteenth day of Farvardin, the first month of the Iranian calendar (and the first month of spring), during which ...

* Similar to Shab-e Sal, Lel Resh Shata ( Lishan Didan: ''Night of the New Year'') or simply Lel Shata (Lishan Didan: ''Night of the Year'') is celebrated by Nash Didan Jews from Iranian Azerbaijan. Many customs and practices are identical to Shab-e Sal, but there are some distinct practices. Customs include: placing a mirror on the table to reflect happiness into the new year, placing grain and coins/jewelry into a bowl of water (to recall the events of the Splitting of the Sea and the New Year for the Grain), sending gifts to each other, and eating hames and dairy (as they couldn't be eaten on Pesah, hames due to Biblical prohibition, and dairy since many Nash Didan Jews are stricter on the practice of Halaw Yisrael on Pesah than the rest of the year). The holiday is often connected to the waving of the 'omer, and some miswot like miswat qali (as mentioned in Mishna Menahot 10) may be performed then.

Film festivals

Cinéma Vérité Cinéma vérité (, , ) is a style of documentary filmmaking developed by Edgar Morin and Jean Rouch, inspired by Dziga Vertov's theory about '' Kino-Pravda''. It combines improvisation with use of the camera to unveil truth or highlight subje ...

documentary film festival, Tehran *

Fajr International Film Festival Iran's annual Fajr International Film Festival (), or Fajr Film Festival (little: FIFF; ), has been held every February in Tehran since 1983. The festival is supervised by the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance. It takes place on the anni ...

, the major film festival * Hassanat short film festival,

Esfahan Isfahan or Esfahan ( ) is a city in the Central District of Isfahan County, Isfahan province, Iran. It is the capital of the province, the county, and the district. It is located south of Tehran. The city has a population of approximately ...

* International Film Festival for Children and Youth, held in different cities each year * Nahal International Short Film Festival, a student festival dedicated to short films *

Roshd International Film Festival Roshd International Film Festival is eldest film festival in Iran. It is centered on the films with educational and pedagogical themes and is staged every year by the Supplying Educational Media Center, a sub-branch of the Ministry of Education o ...

, focused on films with educational themes * Tehran International Film Festival, a former film festival, held before the

Iranian revolution The Iranian Revolution (, ), also known as the 1979 Revolution, or the Islamic Revolution of 1979 (, ) was a series of events that culminated in the overthrow of the Pahlavi dynasty in 1979. The revolution led to the replacement of the Impe ...

(1972-1977) * Tehran International Short Film Festival, from 2020 a qualifying festival for the Academy Awards * Urban International Film Festival, held in Tehran by the Tasvir Shahr Institute

References

Bibliography

* Shirzad Aghaee, ''Nouruz - Berliyan-negin-e jashnha-yi irani va digar jashnha va jashn-aiyinha-yi mardomi-yi iran'' (

Nouruz Nowruz (, , () , () , () , () , Kurdish: () , () , () , () , , , , () , , ) is the Iranian or Persian New Year. Historically, it has been observed by Iranian peoples, but is now celebrated by many ethnicities world ...

and other Iranian National Festivals), Stockholm, Sweden, 2002. * Festivals in Encyclopædia Iranica {{Asia topic, List of festivals in

Festivals A festival is an event celebrated by a community and centering on some characteristic aspect or aspects of that community and its religion or cultures. It is often marked as a local or national holiday, Melā, mela, or Muslim holidays, eid. A ...