Jashn-e Sadeh
جشن سده
On UNESCO’s list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity
Photo: Farzad j, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
In the depth of winter, fifty days before spring, a great bonfire is lit at sunset. People gather around it to sing, dance and pray, offer blessings and fruit, and celebrate the passing of the coldest days.
A hundred days and nights
Sadeh means “one hundred”. In the folk calendar it marks the point when the coldest days of winter are over and fifty days and fifty nights remain until spring — a hundred in all. It was once celebrated with great splendour to honour fire and to drive away darkness, frost and cold.
The fire
At sunset a large bonfire is lit in an open space, and people gather in circles around it. As the fire burns they sing, dance and pray, and offer blessings together with dried and fresh fruit. In Zoroastrian tradition, wood and camel thorn were gathered the day before, and in the morning after the fire, embers could be carried home to kindle the household hearth from the blessed flame.
The most elaborate celebrations today are in cities such as Kerman and Yazd, where Zoroastrian communities keep many of the old customs.
Hushang and the flint
Legend tells how the mythical king Hushang, climbing a mountain, saw a snake and threw a stone at it. The stone missed and struck another rock; sparks flew from the flint and set the brush alight. Hushang gave thanks for the secret of fire, and Sadeh remembers that moment.
The start of the farming year
Sadeh also marks the traditional beginning of agricultural work: farmers spread fertiliser on their land, gardeners prune their trees, and villagers meet outdoors to clean water channels and pools and repair bridges together. In 2023 Sadeh/Sada was inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List for Iran and Tajikistan.
When it happens
Sadeh is celebrated every year on 30 January, which falls on 10 Bahman in the Iranian calendar, fifty days and fifty nights before Nowruz.
- January 30, 2027Calculated
- January 30, 2028Calculated
- January 30, 2029Calculated
- January 30, 2030Calculated
Visiting with respect
Good to know
- The fire is the heart of the gathering and is not jumped over. Keep a respectful distance and follow the lead of the organisers.
- Outdoor gatherings are subject to Iran’s dress code. Women must cover their hair and wear a long-sleeved tunic or coat over trousers or a floor-length skirt; men should wear long trousers and long sleeves.
- Ask before photographing people, especially during prayers.
Avoid
- Do not photograph military or government buildings. Foreign nationals have been detained for photography near sensitive sites.
- Do not drink alcohol. It is illegal in Iran, and penalties can be severe.
Stay safe
- As of September 2026 the UK government advises against all travel to Iran. Check your own government’s advice before planning a trip.
Sources
This entry was written from the following sources.
- Sadeh/Sada celebrationUNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage · read September 16, 2026
- SadehWikipedia (English) · read September 16, 2026
- Iran travel advice: safety and securityUK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office · read September 16, 2026
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