Iranian Holydays And Holy Days
 
   
In Iran, a non-Arab Muslim country that having a glorious history and a dazzling civilization, there is a wide variety of both national and religious festivals each of which is celebrated as a memorial of an important day in the past.
After getting acquainted with Islam and a nationwide acceptance of it, now we boast of being Muslims without forgetting our ancestral past. Having received Islam warmly and having been converted into this new, heavenly religion, Iranians never forget their historical and cultural backgrounds. Over 1400 years have passed and still Iranians try to commemorate the traditional festivals that are symbols of love, friendship and intimacy.
Here, I'm going to introduce those national and religious festivals which have been celebrated throughout history and, although I have categorized them into 'national' and 'religious' ones, they are not inherently opposing each other, rather, they stem from our Iranian Islamic culture which is neither nostalgically rooted in past glorious days of Persian Empire, nor xenophobically against Semitics.
 

National Holidays
1. Norooz
Norooz festival, an ancient and everlasting celebration, starts on the first day of the spring (March 21) and lasts for 13 days. Although its historical origin is not known, it is certain that Norooz had been celebrated by people and kings throughout the monarchy of Achamenids and Sasanids and after the extinction of Yazdgerd's royal family, through Islam's pervasive jurisdiction, to the modern age of 21st century.
In Zoroastrianism, the annual seasonal renewal festival of Norooz in spring is at the same time a solemn and joyful celebration of new life in nature and the anticipated resurrection of the body when the world will be restored to its original and intended goodness - after the defeat of Ahriman (the spirit of evil and chaos) and his demons.
On the days of the major festivals, such as Norooz, the first day of vernal equinox, and on the day of Mehragan or Mithra, the 16th day of the seventh month, the sacred fire was displayed to the faithful at night from some vantage point. This festival, was traditionally an autumn one, as honored as the spring feast of Norooz.
 
At present, Norooz is celebrated in many countries including Afghanistan, Tajikestan, India, Iraq, Pakistan, and Azarbaijan.
In pre-Islam age, Norooz was divided into two parts; during the first five days, the kings and governors would invite common people to their majestic courts to listen to their requests and to try to have their problems solved. On the 6th day they would choose privacy with their own royal household.
In 1046 B.C Jalaloddin Malakshah, a Saljuq king, decreed to the sages and scholars attending his royal court to create a new chronological system in which, Norooz, or the first day of the spring, was to be considered as the first day of the year. To do this, however, they decided to add a day to every four other years so that the fourth year included 366 days (a leap year) and after 28 years, they would add a day to the fifth year, i.e. the 33rd year. Thus, the Jalai calendar is the nearest one to the actual solar travel of the Earth, which is in 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes and 46 seconds.
According to the Persian legends, Norooz is the firs day of Creation.
By this time, a week before the start of the new year people begin to clean their houses by washing carpets and rugs, painting the walls, and dusting all their belongings. In Farsi they call it Khaneh-tekani. Honoring the arrival of spring - season of happiness and cheerful days about two handfuls of *wheat or other grains are grown.
   
**One popular ceremony of the festival is setting a table called Haft-sin in which seven edible things are placed that begin with letter "s" in Farsi like somagh (sumac), senjid (oleaster), serkeh (vinegar), sib (apple), sangak (a kind of Iranian bread) etc.
Beside them, Iranian people never forget to place a mirror, their holly book (Koran), and a crystal carafe with two gold fish in it, one or a few coins, and some candies on the table. As soon as the New Year starts (which has been calculated exactly to the minute) all the family members kiss each other on the cheek and then the children receive gifts from elder people.
The festival lasts for 13 days during which all the schoolgirls and boys are on vacation.
As a tradition Iranians try to spend the 13th day outdoors. They picnic in the country, in mountainous areas or on the outskirts while making Bar-B-Q and having lunch in open space. Also, on this day, the grown sprouts of wheat are thrown away and the live red fish set free into the streams or in the pools.
There are a lot of sagas about this because it is believed that 13 is an ominous number. The most reasonable legend is that at the realm of an ancient Rex, the Earth had trembled by a terrifying earthquake and many houses were demolished. From that day on, supposing that it will happen again in the next year, people leave their houses.