Sizdah Bedar: A Joyful Persian New Year Tradition
Sizdah Bedar Outdoors: Nowruz in the Open Air
Sizdah Bedar is a key tradition in the Nowruz (Persian New Year) celebrations, observed on the 13th day of Farvardin, the Iranian calendar’s first month.
It combines ancient customs with outdoor activities, where families and friends convene in natural settings to share meals, stories, and engage in traditional games.
The event represents the shedding of negativity and the welcoming of spring’s renewal, enhancing the Nowruz experience, strengthening community ties, and fostering a connection with nature.
Known as “Nature’s Day,” Sizdah Bedar invites participants to enjoy the outdoors, marking the end of the Nowruz holidays in Iran.
It’s not just a cultural practice but a celebration of Iran’s enduring heritage. The festival has its origins in Zoroastrianism, symbolizing spring’s triumph over winter.
It’s believed that spending time outside on this day helps ward off evil spirits. Sizdah Bedar is a day filled with folklore, community, and the celebration of nature’s beauty, embodying the spirit of renewal and joy.
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Sizdah Bedar 2025
Sizdah Bedar Date in 2025
چهارشنبه، ۱۳ فروردین ۱۴۰۴
Wednesday, April 2, 2025
Sizdah Bedar Traditions
Experience the traditions of Sizdah Bedar, observed on the 13th day of Nowruz, the Persian New Year. Delve into its rituals and customs, from picnics to nature walks, marking the end of festivities and the renewal of nature. Explore our comprehensive guide to embrace the essence of this joyous occasion.
Sizdah Bedar: A Persian Picnic
At the heart of Sizdah Bedar, picnics steal the show. Families and friends unite, laying out a spread of rice dishes, grilled meat, delectable pastries, sweets, and aromatic herbal teas. As the rhythm of music fills the air, dance steps synchronize, creating an ambiance of joy.
Tying the “sizdah-bedar-knot” stands out as a poignant ritual. Participants believe in transferring the year’s bad luck to this knot and later cast it into the wind, letting go of past misfortunes.
The festival also brings out the competitive spirit in attendees. From horse riding, archery to wrestling, these games, once warrior training tools, now serve as familial bonding avenues.
Releasing Sprouting Greens
In Sizdah Bedar participants return the Haft Seen’s greenery to nature, a gesture that signifies reconnecting life with the earth and concludes the Nowruz festivities.
Discarding this greenery is a way for families to cast off the past year’s hardships and misfortunes. On the 13th day of Nowruz, it is customary for many to place these greens near streams or let them drift in flowing waters.
This act is thought to carry away old memories of the past year, with the belief that as the greens flow downstream, they spread renewal across the earth.
The Tradition of Knotting the Greenery
At the conclusion of the Sizdah Bedar festival, young singles, particularly women, engage in a symbolic tradition of tying knots in sprouts’ leaves.
As they secure each knot, they softly whisper wishes for finding a future partner or spouse into the layers of the leaves. This act is not only steeped in symbolism but also intertwines personal hopes with the natural cycle of growth and renewal.
The knots are seen as symbols of destiny’s ties, and the act of whispering wishes enriches this ancient tradition with a deeply personal and hopeful sentiment towards love and companionship.
Cooking Ash On Sizdah Bedar
Another cherished tradition of the Sizdah Bedar celebration involves the preparation of a special soup known as “Ash,” particularly in some regions, on the night before Sizdah Bedar.
This is done with the intention of safeguarding against any mishaps on the day of Sizdah Bedar, and it is shared among neighbors between the thirteenth.
Generally, the custom of cooking Ash Reshteh and enjoying it in the heart of nature is widespread among most Iranians. Another delicacy particularly popular among the people of Kurdistan is the consumption of grape leaves Dolma.
The Lie of the Thirteen
On Sizdah Bedar, Iranians embrace the “Lie of the Thirteen” (Dorugh-e Sizdah), a tradition mirroring the jests of April Fools’ Day.
Historically, this prank-filled holiday dates back to 536 BC in the Achaemenid Empire.
Sizdah Bedar Photos
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