The tradition of leaving the house on the thirteenth (Sizdah) day of Farvardin, the last day of the Norooz period, and spending that day outside with joy, laughter and pleasure has been in practice since ancient times in Iran. This is the last phase of the celebrations of the New Year ( Norouz). This joyous celebration has its roots in the Zoroastrian belief that laughter and joy symbolize the throwing away of bad thoughts. According to Zoroastrianism, bad thoughts are the gift of Ahreeman (the devil) and his offspring and the festival of the New Year will cleanse all bad thoughts. The celebrations defeat the enemies and plant shoots of comradeship and peace. The custom of kissing each other on the cheeks also comes from a belief that it cleanses the individual.
On the last day of the New Year celebrations, the 13th of the first month Farvardin, it is the custom of Iranians to pass as many hours as possible outdoors. All people leave their homes to go to the parks or local plains for a very festive picnic. It is a must to spend this day in nature and the occasion is called Sizdah-Bedar. It is generally believed that if people stay home something bad can happen.
All kinds of food and delicacies are prepared with tea, local drinks, fruits, bread, cheese and fresh herbs, noodle soup called ‘ash-e reshteh’ and herbed rice with lamb (baqali polo and bareh) are favorites. The wealthy Iranians will spend the day in their country homes and estates, while the entire day will be spent in their gardens. The occasion is a communal one and all close relatives and friends will participate. Wheat or barley shoots (sabzeh) that are grown especially for New Year and are kept throughout the festivities are discarded in nature mainly in running waters and small rivers at the end of the day. Another tradition on the 13th, is the knotting of blades of grass by unmarried girls in the hope of finding a husband. The knotting of the grass represents the bondage of a man and a woman. The picnic ends with the setting of the sun. The occasion has no religious significance and is celebrated by all.
Nooshi, I wonder if your Mother is Carmen who would be about 52? maybe, and taught school in Tehran in 1980 at Golestan school....with me and many other "Foreign wives"....she was American, but could almost pass for an Iranian with her dark shiny hair and brown eyes. If you are Carmen's daughter, I am so so happy to see your picture (and even if you are not, for you seem like a very fine young person) ...if your Mother is the Carmen I knew, will you contact me or have your mother contact me at pymccoy@hotmail.com. She would remember I had a young daughter who is just a few years older than you..... thank you, and I hope I'm not intruding...
ReplyDeleteNooshi, I'm laughing at myself. In the above post, I forgot to say my name. It's Patty Nouraie. thank you:)
ReplyDeleteHi Patty, I'm not Carmen's daughter:)
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