Iranians mark Sizdah-bedar or Day of Nature

Iranians observe the Day of Nature (also known as Sizdah-bedar) that marks the 13th and last day of Nowruz holiday.

Sizdah-bedar is marked on the 13th day of Farvardin, the first month of the Persian calendar, and the final day Nowruz holiday, which starts on March 20 or 21.

This year, Sizdah-bedar falls on Sunday.

Sizdah-bedar means 13 outdoors in Persian, and is usually marked by having picnics outdoors with family and friends, and having special food such as kebab and Ash reshteh.

As the festival is coinciding with the holy fasting month of Ramadan when Muslims abstain from eating and drinking from dawn to sunset, this year, people will head to parks and green spaces in the evening to celebrate the festival.

On Sizdah-bedar, people throw their Sabzeh (freshly grown greens), which they kept on Nowruz’s Haftseen table, into a river or wherever water flows.

Nowruz is an ancient festival that marks the arrival of spring and the Persian New Year.

Iranians mark Nowruz by setting the Haftseen, a table with seven symbolic items starting with the Persian /s/ sound, including Sabzeh (freshly grown greens), Samanu (a sweet pudding made from germinated wheat), Senjed (a dried fruit), Seeb (apple), Seer (garlic), Somaq (sumac), and Serkeh (vinegar).

SQ/MM