One of the very beautiful and delightful aspects of our Iranian culture is the festivals and celebrations that are held for various occasions throughout the country. The festivals in Iran, which are essentially a valuable and historical legacy from ancient times and our ancient rituals, serve as a comprehensive encyclopedia of the culture and customs of the people of this land. Join us as we explore Iranian festivals further and experience the taste of an authentic culture by participating in these celebrations.
Nowruz Eid; The leader of the important festivals of Iran with world fame
Undoubtedly, Nowrouz is one of the most important celebrations of ancient Iran. This festival, which starts from the Achaemenid era and with the beginning of spring, celebrates the renewal of nature and the beginning of the solar new year.
During this national celebration, Iranians clean their homes and neighborhoods, sweeping away the dust of the past year to welcome the new year with a pure spirit and body. The Haft-Seen, which has its own significance, encompasses all the symbols of nature and new life and is laid out in every home. Nowrouz is the most important national festival for Iranians, celebrated simultaneously across all regions of Iran and in countries such as Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, and some areas of India, Turkey, Syria, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and even Russia.
orange tree wedding; One of the most beautiful festivals in Iran
The people of Shiraz have always been known for their joyfulness and sociability. They have inherited this beautiful trait from their ancestors, who find a reason for happiness and celebration in every event and phenomenon in the world. One of the most remarkable festivals in Iran that proves the sociability and delicate, poetic spirit of the people of Shiraz is the wedding celebration of the bitter orange tree.
In this sweet and interesting celebration, the people of Shiraz hold a magnificent wedding ceremony for every orange tree that is unlikely to bear fruit in the new year. The story of the orange tree’s wedding goes as follows: the homeowner attacks the barren orange tree with an axe to cut it down at the root. At that moment, kind neighbors intervene and ask the homeowner to give this sad, fruitless tree another chance by organizing a wedding celebration for it. Ultimately, through the mediation and intercession of the locals, the wedding ceremony for the orange tree is held with great splendor.
Gol ghaltan; A magnificent festival in the first spring of life
One of the major festivals in Iran that brings joy and happiness is the Rolling Flower Festival. This festival is held every year from late April to late June in cities such as Kashan, Semnan, and Damghan.
At the centennial Ghaltan festival, a grand ceremony is set to be held for newborns experiencing their first spring of life. During this event, the relatives of the newborn head to the gardens and flower fields in the early hours of the day to gather a large quantity of Mohammadi flowers for the Ghaltan celebration.
After picking the red flowers, they separate the petals and bathe the newborn. Finally, after the bath, the newborn is placed in a white cloth filled with rose petals, and while reciting local poems and songs, they roll the baby in the flowers. Once the ceremony concludes, the petals are dried to be kept as a memento in their child’s prayer rug for when they get married.
Kashan Gulabgiri Festival; The most famous Iranian festival in the world
As spring arrives, the people of Kashan prepare to host one of the most famous and oldest festivals in Iran, the Rosewater Festival. The tradition of rosewater distillation in Iran has a history of a thousand years. You might find it interesting to know that it was the Iranians who first discovered the therapeutic properties of the rose and, through the process of distillation, extracted the fragrant and beneficial essence known as rosewater. The term “rose” refers to the well-known Damask rose, which is recognized as a native plant in Iran.
Pomegranate festival in Iran
One of the biggest celebrations of ancient Iran, which has a very beautiful philosophy hidden behind it, is the Pomegranate Festival. This festival, which has left its footprints in most parts of Iran, is held with the aim of protecting pomegranate, this heavenly blessing. In fact, this ancient day is an excuse for people to gather together and thank God for all the blessings He has bestowed upon them.
Food festival in Iran
One of the other festivals in Iran, which has only been around for 5 years, is the Food Festival. In this festival, people from various cities in Iran gather together in a large exhibition to showcase traditional beverages and local dishes, highlighting the rich culinary culture of this land. This festival is held annually from January 25 to 28 in different cities such as Semnan, Zanjan, and Kermanshah.
Chaharshanbe Suri Festival
Chaharshanbe Suri is one of the pure rituals and national celebrations of Iran, recognized by lighting fires and jumping over them in open spaces. If we want to discuss the origin of the name of this festival, we should say that some believe the word “Suri” refers to celebration and joy; however, most historians believe that the name of this festival is derived from the word “Suri,” meaning red. Of course, this ceremony was not necessarily held on Wednesdays in ancient times and was known as “Shab-e Suri” (the Night of Suri).
