Traditions and Intangible Heritage

Norouz Eve (New Year Eve)

Norouz or Nowruz (literally "New Day") is the name of the Iranian New Year, also known as the Persian New Year, which is celebrated worldwide by Iranian people, along with some other ethno-linguistic groups, as the beginning of the New Year.

It has been celebrated for over 3,000 years in the Balkans, the Black Sea Basin, the Caucasus, Central Asia, and Western Asia. It marks the first day of Farvardin in the Iranian calendar.

Nowruz is the day of the vernal equinox, and marks the beginning of spring in the Northern Hemisphere. It usually occurs on March 21 or the previous/following day, depending on where it is observed. The moment the sun crosses the celestial equator and equalizes night and day is calculated exactly every year, and families gather together to observe the rituals.

Although having Iranian and religious Zoroastrian origins, Nowruz has been celebrated by people from diverse ethno-linguistic communities for thousands of years. It is a secular holiday for most celebrants that is enjoyed by people of several different faiths, but remains a holy day for Zoroastrians.

Sadeh Celebration

Sadeh is a mid-winter celebration observed by Zoroastrians. It includes preparing a large bonfire and is therefore also known as Adur-Jashan (Feast of fire). The bonfire is to drive back the winter in defiance of Ahriman (satan). It is a deeply religious festival.

Sadeh has a complex history, and two different traditions are to be noted.

By Yazd tradition, it is observed on Ashtad ruz, Adur Mah. This is the 100th ("sadeh" in Persian) day before Noruz. According to the Fasli calendar, this would place it on Dec 11. The other day, observed by Kermani Zoroastrians, is Aban ruz, Vohuman mah (hundredth day after the gahambar of Ayathrima, held to be the beginning of winter) = January 24. People begin to gather an hour before sunset, a spot near a stream seems to be preferred.

Pir-e Shāliār Ritual

The ancient ritual of Pir-e Shaliar is held annually at Uramantakht Village, Kurdestan province, during Jan. 21-Feb. 19.
Despite the passage of many decades, a large number of people are participating in this year’s ceremony, Mehr News Agency reported.
The region’s people call this ritual “Wedding of Pir-e Shaliar”. The ceremony is indicative of the active participation of people in social and cultural events, and every year it is held more gloriously than in the previous year.
Although this ritual is referred to as a wedding, it is in essence a traditional ceremony during which people pray to God.
Precedence
Some historians believe this ritual dates back to 1,000 years and others believe it has a higher historical precedence.
After going through high mountains capped with snow and whirling roads along Siravan River, you reach one of the villages of Kurdestan whose architectural style is renowned and is one of the tourism hubs of the country. In fact, the special architectural style of the village and its rich and beautiful natural resources also attract foreign tourists.
In this village, the roof of a house is a courtyard for the house built above it. The unique architecture of this village catches the attention of any visitor. The dominant construction material used in the village, namely stone and mortar, is not used in building its houses.
Some historians believe the term ‘Uraman’ or ‘Houraman’ consists of two parts:’ Houra’ meaning ‘Ahura’ and ‘Man’ meaning house. Hence, Uraman actually means the land of Ahura Mazda.

Chahārshanbeh Suri

Chaharshanbe Suri, also called the Festival of Fire, is an Iranian festival celebrated on the eve of the last Wednesday before Nowruz (the Iranian New Year).

Charshanbe Suri is a prelude to Nowruz (the Iranian New Year), and is celebrated with firework displays and the jumping over of fires. Mixed nuts and berries are also served during the celebration.

The celebration usually starts in the evening, with people making bonfires and jumping over them (purificatory practices found also in the Celtic festival of Beltane).

The traditional poetic quote zardi ye man az to, sorkhi ye to az man is also sung, which literally means "my yellow is yours, your red is mine." This means you want the fire to take your pallor, sickness, and problems and replace them with warmth and energy. It is a purification rite, which is traditionally regarded necessary before the arrival of spring at the vernal equinox.

Qālishuyān Rituals of Mash'had Ardehāl

Qālišuyān rituals are practised in Iran to honour the memory of Soltān Ali, a holy figure among the people of Kāšān and Fin. According to legend, he was martyred, and his body found and carried in a carpet to a stream, where it was washed and buried by the people of Fin and Xāve. Today, Soltān Ali mausoleum is the site of a ritual where a carpet is washed in the holy stream by a huge gathering. It takes place on the nearest Friday to the seventeenth day of the month of Mehr, according to the solar-agricultural calendar.