Some people in Iran mark Valentine’s Day on February 14 with flowers, chocolates or time together. Iran also has a separate historical festival associated with women and the earth.
These observances have different histories. Accounts of gift shopping in Tehran tell us about a modern custom, while historical sources describe the Zoroastrian festival of Spandarmad.
Contents
Valentine’s Day in Iran
Valentine’s Day in Iran is an informal occasion. Celebrations vary by person and household.
For those who mark it, a small gift or an evening together can be the focus of the day.
Flowers, chocolates and heart-shaped gifts appear in accounts of the celebration. These are examples of how some people mark the occasion.
The most specific accounts below describe Tehran at a particular time.
Valentine’s Gifts and Outings in Tehran
Reuters reporting from February 2012 described people looking for gifts and making dinner plans in Tehran.
The reports mention roses and gift shops. They describe what reporters observed that year, so they give a historical snapshot of the city.
If you are planning dinner, ask the restaurant about reservations for your chosen date.
A café visit or an exchange of gifts can be a personal celebration, without a public event or a fixed itinerary.
The festival known as Sepandarmazgan or Espandegan has its own history. Encyclopaedia Iranica discusses a description by the scholar Biruni around 1000 CE, including the custom of giving gifts to women.
Biruni places the observance on the day named for Spandarmad in the month of the same name. That calendar reference does not establish a fixed interval after February 14.
What Does Sepandarmazgan Commemorate?
Spandarmad is the Middle Persian name associated with Spenta Armaiti, a Zoroastrian figure linked with the earth and devotion. Historical accounts connect the feast with honoring women.
Historical descriptions vary by region and period. The Kashan account, for example, discusses local Esbandi customs and compares them with the older festival described by Biruni.
In modern conversation both occasions can be associated with affection, but their dates and traditions come from separate calendars and histories.
Video: Lovers in Iran celebrate Valentine’s Day
Read More
