Ancient · Farvardin 13

Sizdah Bedar

/seez-DAH be-DAR/

سیزده بدر

How to greet · Pure Persian

سیزده‌بدرتان خوش و خرم

Seez-dah-be-DAR-e-tân KHOSH o KHUR-ram

"May your Thirteenth Out be joyful and verdant"

خوش (khosh) and خرم (khurram) are among the oldest Persian words for joy — خرم also means green and blooming, perfectly matched to a day spent in nature.

Next Occurrence

April 2, 2027

Farvardin 13, 1406 (Persian)

302

days away

Sizdah Bedar — 'Getting Rid of Thirteen' — is the thirteenth and final day of Nowruz. On this day, Iranians leave their homes and spend the entire day outdoors in nature: in parks, by rivers, on hillsides. The number 13 is considered unlucky if spent indoors, but the bad luck is discharged by spending the day outside. It is the Persian equivalent of a great national picnic.

Traditions

  • ◆Going to nature: Every Iranian family spends the day outdoors, taking picnics and games.
  • ◆Tying sabzeh: The sprouted greens from the Haft-Sin table are tied in a knot and thrown into running water, symbolizing the discharge of bad luck.
  • ◆Wish-making: Young unmarried women tie blades of grass together while making a wish for marriage.

Did You Know?

Sizdah Bedar marks the end of the Nowruz holidays — thirteen days of celebration that begin on Farvardin 1 with the spring equinox.

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