After the 12 days of Nowruz, the next day is Sizdah Be-dar, a day when all the people of Iran gather with their families. In mid-April, it’s time to celebrate the beginning of spring one last time. The celebration of Sizdah Be-dar is now known as “Nature Day,” which originates from ancient traditions in Iran. Sizdah Be-dar reminds us of large family gatherings. Sizdah Be-dar is generally observed in Iran and Afghanistan. It is also observed in Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Turkey, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

Sizdah means the number 13 in Persian and is considered an unlucky number. A common practice in Iranian culture is to camp outside on the 13th day of the first month of the Iranian calendar. Iranians leave their homes on this day because of the bad omens associated with the thirteenth day.

The history of the 13th Badr festival

Thirteen Badr has been part of the important rituals and rituals of Iranians since the distant past, and there are uncertainties about the exact time of the origin of this festival.

Thirteenth Badr in ancient Iran: The thirteenth day of every month, in the Zoroastrian view year, is known as Tir Izad Day. Tir or Tishtar is the god of rain and also the guardian of stars and it rains at will. During the drought, on the thirteenth day of every month, the ancient Iranians held a special ritual and went to the nature to defeat the drought demon and prayed for rain or Tirisht.

Thirteenth Badr in the Sassanid period: It is stated in various books and sources that in the Sassanid period, the ritual of holding the Thirteenth Badr started on the 13th of April in the royal court and this celebration ended on the 18th of April. This ritual was in the form of walking and having fun in the garden with singing.

During the Sassanid era, when there was no green growing outside the house, people planted all kinds of vegetables and believed that we will grow the green before the green grows. Planting different types of vegetables was so that each of them grew better, that year they planted the same plant in the ground. It is mentioned in “Athar al-Baqiyyah” that Siavash or the plant god turns green when he dies and the regrowth of the plant was for Siavash to come back to life and when he came back to life, they threw the plant into the water, which represented the mother or wife of the plant god. had caused his death.

Of course, there is another point of view that says that in the architecture of old houses, each room is a symbol of the earth and the roof of the house is a symbol of the sky. This is why the old houses had dome arches and usually the top was crescent shaped and the bottom was flat. The architecture of the old houses is a kind of manifestation of the earth and the sky, and for this reason, they planted vegetables in their houses.

Thirteenth Badr of the Qajar period: During the Qajar period, people used to celebrate in public places on the 13th day of April, and even women could appear in the street without wearing a veil.

Another historical source has said that on the 13th day of April, families would go out of the city with their samovar and food. One of the most common foods that people eat on this day is lettuce with sakanjabin. Families who had a better financial situation would also prepare noodle soup in addition to the main meal.

Among the ancient Iranians, there was a widespread belief that Anahita is the god of waters and fertilizes seeds, and for this reason, green should be returned to its source and essence. The green is the fertilized seeds and is a symbol of greenness throughout the year. On this day, the ancient Iranians return these fertile and lush seeds to Anahita to wait for more greenery.

Flowing water speaks of life and dynamism and is undoubtedly different from the mythological characteristics of stagnant water. For this reason, greens should be thrown in running water, which is life-giving. It can be concluded that the reason why they throw green grass into the water is that the things in the minds of our ancestors took on a mythological and mysterious aspect and were reflected in external behaviors, and these beliefs are still common among people.

Also, in the past, some people believed that the green on the Haft Sin table absorbs the negative energies of the surrounding environment, and for this reason, it should be left in running water on the thirteenth day of Badr, which is a sign of purity. And it is clear.

 

 

The way of celebrating the thirteenth day of Badr in ancient Iran

 

The 13th of Badr is in a way the beginning of the half year of two crops, and Iranian people used to go to their fields and fields to pray to the rain god and promise a good year, and in the green fields full of flowers and desert plants, they were happy and singing songs. Also, on this day, they collected desert greens and did not forget to cook soup and special foods.

Another part of the 13 rituals of Badr is related to beliefs that are somehow related to destiny. For example, fortune-telling, tying greens, fortune-telling and other examples can be mentioned.

Group games, group songs and dances, collecting field plants, kite flying, horse riding, happy shows and water games were part of the Thirteen Badr ceremonies in ancient Iran, which are rooted in mythological beliefs and culture.

It is interesting to know that the 13th of Farvardin is the official day of asking for rain for all the lands of Iran, and eating food in the plains and deserts is also mentioned in Avesta.

 

The customs of Thirteen Badr

Sizdeh Badr has had customs and traditions from the beginning, some of which have faded over time, but some of these customs are still standing. Among the rituals of the 13th Badr festival, we can mention tying the greens or watering the greens. Most of the young boys and girls who were lucky did this to open up their luck. Of course, tying a green knot is not only for lucky boys and girls, and everyone can make a wish and tie a green knot, with the belief that after the knot is untied, their problems will be solved.

In the following, we will fully examine the customs and traditions of the 13th Badr festival.

Common games in Sizdeh Badr: On this day, most people start playing after eating a delicious meal and relaxing in nature. Because this day is the last holiday during Nowruz and it should be used from moment to moment. Each city has its own game, but among the well-known and suitable games for Thirteen Badr, we can mention the middle game, Haft Seng and Zuo. Because these games are played in groups and are dynamic.

Playing on nature day in a collective way creates happiness and joy, which is considered an important part of the programs of this day. It is true that nowadays, cycling and ball games have replaced two-person ships and stick games and many other old games, but still if you travel to provinces such as West Azarbaijan, Shiraz and Kurdistan by buying a last minute plane ticket , you can watch the local games of Sizdeh Badr. The people of this region will be in a big plain.

Knotting greens on the 13th of Badr: From the past until now, Iranians used to soak wheat, barley or lentils in water a week before Nowruz and put the greens in a container and keep them until the 13th of Farvardin. Some also put watercress seeds or tizzak seeds, which grew very quickly, on a green cloth and wrapped the cloth around the jar or any other container.

One of the old customs is tying 13 Badr Sabzeh. The green philosophy of knotting is related to a Zoroastrian legend, which has been mentioned in full above. This custom is gradually becoming popular among ancient Iranians, and many believe that young people should tie a green knot on this day to unlock their luck. There is an old belief among Iranians that on this day you should tie a green leaf with a special intention to make your wish come true. People believe that by untying the green knot, they will get their wish and their problems will be solved.

To water the greens on nature day: Giving green to water is also one of the rituals of the 13th of Farvardin and has an ancient history. Many historians believe that watering the fresh Nowruz greens in the flowing water of streams is a kind of offering to the god of water “Anahita” and the god of rain “Tir”. Ancient Iranians believed that the plant that these gods raised should return to them so that blessings and fertility appear in the new year. Water and green are both signs of prosperity, prosperity and freshness, and the combination of green and water is a coincidence of Homayun.

 

Throwing stones into the water in Sizdeh Badr: Throwing stones into running water is more common among the people of northern Iran. In this way, in addition to throwing green grass into the water, they also drop a stone in the river water as a sign of the thirteenth day of Badr. It is interesting to know that every stone they throw in the water is a sign of a wish. In the Kurdish regions of Iran, people throw thirteen stones on their backs. People who do this work believe that this work will keep evil away from people.

Setting up a picnic: on the 13th of Farvardin every year, people would close the bar and bandil, and the 13 Badr, would go to the plains and the desert with small samovars and bags full of food. In the past, groups of singers and dancers, monkey dancers and bear dancers, Hajifirouz and other groups used to draw people to their table and entertain them by taking ten or five kings. It was for this reason that people wished that the weather would be sunny and warm. In some regions of Iran, in order for the weather to be pleasant and sunny during the 13th day, people used to do superstitious things, one of which was to paint the eyes of the rooster in the house.

Currently, before the arrival of 13 Badr, people are thinking of choosing a suitable place to spend this day and set up a picnic. Some people choose parks, others by getting train tickets They go to the natural gifts of the surrounding cities and some gather at home or garden to celebrate this day together. On this day, several families usually plan together to spend 13 days of Badr together and enjoy this ancient festival more.

Traditional foods in the 13th Badr celebration

 

In different parts of our country, 13 Badr has a special color and smell. On this day, different ethnic groups make their own special dishes, wear their own ethnic clothes, and perform dances and songs that are unfamiliar to the rest of the people.

Of course, currently in Sizdeh Badr, it has become common to set fire and charcoal and make barbecue chicken, and it is not specific to one city or province. Of course, in addition to this type of food, there are also a series of traditional 13-day dishes that most grandmothers cook on fire in the heart of nature.

One of the traditional dishes for Sizdeh Badr, which is common in many cities of Iran, is Ash Nasheh. Ash Nash is one of the traditional dishes of our country, which is mostly prepared with vegetables and legumes, and because of its color and smell, it reminds of the blessings of nature.

If you travel to Azerbaijan during the holidays of Eid and 13th of Badr , you will see that Tabrizi meatballs are one of the traditional dishes of the people of this region for this day. It is customary that the younger ones help the older ones in preparing and cooking Tabrizi meatballs. The meatballs are prepared the night before and after cooling, they are stored in the refrigerator.

Demi bakhala and Demi bulghur are considered to be eaten by Tehranis on the 13th day of Badr. It can also be said from the 13th Badr ritual of the northerners that they include all kinds of halwa in their table, and some also use Semnu in their 13th Badr table. In some provinces, such as Borujerd and Fars, people take 13 boiled eggs and 13 walnuts with them and eat rice with eggs and walnuts for lunch.

 

Significance of Sizdah Be-dar

Sizdah Be-dar holds a special place in the hearts of Iranians, embodying the themes of renewal, nature appreciation, and communal harmony. It is a day to reflect on the blessings of the past year, release any lingering negativity, and set positive intentions for the future. The holiday fosters a sense of togetherness, as families and friends unite to celebrate their shared heritage and cultural identity.

Tips for Celebrating Sizdah Be-dar

1. Plan Ahead: Choose a scenic outdoor location early, as popular spots can get crowded.
2. Pack Traditional Foods: Prepare a picnic with traditional Iranian dishes to fully embrace the holiday’s culinary traditions.
3. Engage in Eco-friendly Practices: Be mindful of the environment by cleaning up after your picnic and respecting nature.
4. Participate in Rituals: Join in the Sabzeh disposal ritual to connect with the holiday’s deeper meaning.
5. Share Your Experience: Use social media to share your Sizdah Be-dar celebrations, connecting with others and promoting cultural awareness.

Conclusion

Sizdah Be-dar is more than just a celebration; it is a testament to Iran’s rich cultural heritage and the enduring bond between its people and nature. By understanding and participating in this vibrant holiday, one can appreciate the depth of Iranian traditions and the universal themes of renewal and community. Whether in Iran or part of the global Iranian diaspora, Sizdah Be-dar offers a unique opportunity to connect with nature, celebrate with loved ones, and embrace the promise of a prosperous new year.