The months of the Persians (Zoroastrian calendar)

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The Zoroastrian calendar is one of the most particular ways ever to tell the time, something that tries to unite nature and spirit, thus fully perceiving the passing of the seasons

The Qazwini version of Zoroastrian calendar

Before starting, it is necessary to specify an extremely important aspect to fully understand what the months and days of the Zoroastrian calendar actually are: many of the names mentioned by Qazwini are heavily crippled. Precisely for this aspect, while preparing the article, I had for a long time the impression that this information was wrong, realizing only with great imagination that I was actually in front of the same words.

Zoroastrian calendar

In the Zoroastrian calendar each month is dedicated to a specific element of religion and the same goes for the names of the days, which are 30 and all different from each other; when the name of the month coincides with that of the day, then there is a party. Specifically, according to Qazwini the names would be: 1.Hurmuz, 2.Bahman, 3.Urdibihisht, 4.Shahrir, 5.Isfandarmad, 6.Khurdadh, 7.Murdadh, 8.Day Badar, 9.Adar, 10.Aban, 11.Khur, 12.Mah, 13.Tir, 14.Gush, 15.Day Bamihr, 16.Mihr, 17.Sorush, 18.Rash, 19.Farwadin, 20.Bahram, 21.Ram, 22.Badh, 23 .Day Badin, 24.Dey, 25.Arad, 26.Astadh, 27.Asman, 28.Zamyadh, 29.Mar-isfand, 30.Aniran. This calendar included 12 months, each lasting 30 days, with finally 5 days at the end of the year. The quotes are not complete, but if you want you can easily retrieve them by purchasing the book.

Farwadin

“The 1st is the Nowruz, or the New Year. Its name in Persian has this meaning. They claim that God the Most High, on this day, made the spheres spin and set in motion the Sun, the Moon and all planets. The 17th is Sorush’s day. Sorush is the name of an angel, guardian of the night, which is said to correspond to Gabriel. The 19th is Farward’s Day, a holiday called Farwardigan, according to the name of the month. ”

Hafta sin

Urdibihisht-mah

“On day 3, which is called Urdibihisht-ruz, there is a correspondence between the name of the day and that of the month, and therefore a festival called Urdibihishtgan is celebrated. The 26 is the day of Astadh.”

Khurdadh-mah

“The 6th is Khurdadh-ruz. It is the name of the guardian angel of plants and trees, who makes them grow and removes the impure substances from their sap. The 30th is Aniran-ruz, which is Abriz-gan, the feast of Ritual washing. “

Tir-mah

“On the 13th, which is Tir-ruz, there is a holiday called Tir-agan. They remember that on this day Manucihr asked Afrasiyab, when Iranshahr conquered him, to return it to him and he did it. On the 16th it is Mihr-ruz . Mihr is the name of the Sun. “

Zoroastrian calendar

Murdadh-mah

“The 7th is Murdadh-ruz and there is a relative feast”.

Shahrir-mah

“The 4th is Shahrir-ruz, with its party. The 25th is Bahram-ruz, also known as little Mihragan”.

Mihr-mah

“The 16th is Mihr-ruz, a very important holiday. On this day, the kings of Persia made their children wear a golden crown, on which there was an image of the Sun, its movements and its course, Mihr being, as we have said, the name of the Sun. 21, which is Ram’s day, is the day when Faridun defeated Zahhak and took him prisoner. “

Zoroastrian calendar

Aban-mah

“The 10th is Aban-ruz. The last five days of this month are called Farwardigan. During these days, food and hot drinks are prepared, which are placed on the lid of the sarcophagi: they believe that the souls of the dead, in those days, go out. from their respective places of reward or punishment and scatter their forces. “

Adhar-mah

“The 1st is the festival of the Ride of the trees. The Persians have the tradition that, on this day, a beardless man rides a donkey wearing old clothes, receiving food and hot drinks, with his body sprinkled with medicines. In his hand he holds a fan with which one gets air saying: “How hot! How hot! “. The people throw snow and ice at him, he then begins to hit the most eminent people with his fan, up to the sultan. On the 9th, which is Adhar-ruz, a festival called Adhar- jashn. Refers to fire since Adhar is the name of the angel who presides over all fires. The night between Adhar-mah and Day-mah is celebrated on the night of Yalda. ”

yalda

Day-mah

“The 1st is called Khurram-ruz, which is a name of God the Most High. On this day the king descended from the throne and wore a white robe, lifted the veil, abandoned the character of sovereign and assumed among the people the the peacemaker’s office. On the 14th is Gush-ruz, where there is a festival called Sir-sur, during which people eat garlic, drink wine and cook vegetables with meat. it’s Mihr-ruz, there is the Gawkil festival “.

Bahman

“On the 2nd, which is Bahman-ruz, there is the feast of Bahman-gan. Bahman is the name of the guardian angel of pets, which people need to live. The 10th, which is Aban, is the feast of Sada, the Persian meaning of which is “one hundred.” It is said to be called “one hundred” because there are 100 days left at the end of the year or because, on this day, the number of center years of the progenitor of the Gayumart men is completed. “

Zoroastrian calendar

Isfandarmudh-mah

“The 5th is Isfandarmudh-ruz, this is the name of the guardian angel of the Earth and the virtuous woman who loves her husband. This party is reserved for men and women who are good to each other and who enter into agreements contractual “.

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