Chaharshanbe Suri (Festival of Fire)
An ancient Persian festival with Zoroastrian origins. Chahrshanbe Suri is celebrated on the eve of last Tuesday before Nowruz (Persian new year). People gather around one or more bonfires, jump over the flames, cook Aush (an Iranian ceremonial dish) and sing songs in order to drive away bad luck and evil spirits.
Charshanbe Suri includes a custom similar to trick-or-treat called Qashoq-Zani, literally translated as "spoon-banging". People wear disguises and go door-to-door to hit spoons against plates or bowls and receive packaged snacks.
Nowruz
The famous Persian New Year, also known as Nowruz, is one of the most ancient celebrations in human history. It marks the beginning of the Persian New Year and the resurrection of nature.
Nowruz has been celebrated throughout the history not only by Iranian people but also by millions and millions of Persians, Kurds, Turks and many other folks.
Nowruz has many different traditions. People buy new cloth and start cleaning their houses before the arrival of new year; everyone decorate their houses with Haft-Sin, Elders give cash gifts to young ones, families gather around and spend time together. Relatives visit one another.
Nowruz was added to the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2010.
Sizdah Bedar
Sizdah Bedar, also known as Nature’s day, is ancient Persian Zoroastrian festival held in Farvardin 13th that marks the end of Nowruz holidays.
People spend this day picnicking outdoors in nature. 13 is a sinister number in ancient Persian legends which is why people spend the day outside their houses in nature in order to bring bad omens out of their homes.
Yalda Night
Yalda night, also known as Shab-e Chelleh, is an Iranian festival celebrated on the longest and darkest night of the year. Yalda is celebrated on the last night of autumn and marks the beginning of winter.
During Yalda, young people gather around in their parents or grandparent’s homes and after dinner, they stay listening to their stories, they read poems of Hafez, stories of Shahnameh (the Persian Book of Kings) and they eat nuts, special desserts of Yalda, watermelon and pomegranate.
