Festipath

Jashn-e Sadeh

جشن سده

Jashn-e Sadeh (جشن سده) is a mid-winter feast in which people gather around a fire. It is celebrated annually on 30 January, the 10th of Bahman.

What happens

At sunset, a bonfire is lit in a public outdoor space and people gather in circles around it. The fire is the centre of the gathering, rather than something jumped over.

As the fire burns, people sing, dance and pray around it. Blessings are offered, along with dry or fresh fruits. A legend attributes the discovery of fire to the mythical king Hushang, who is said to have thrown a stone at a snake, missed, and struck flint instead.

Why it matters

Sadeh matters as a living midwinter rite of Zoroastrian origin, centred on fire, blessing and shared observance. Its name means “one hundred”, marking one hundred days and nights still to run before the new year; the feast is therefore a counting point in the year rather than a threshold in it. Around the fire, people sing, dance and pray, and offer blessings and fruit. Sadeh was inscribed in 2023 on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, nomination file 01713, submitted jointly by Iran and Tajikistan.

When it happens

Caution

These dates are approximate: either the timing varies from year to year, or the rule behind them is not fully confirmed. Confirm this year’s dates locally before you travel.

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Before you go

Sadeh — visiting etiquette

Never

  • Do not photograph military or government installations. Photography near them is strictly prohibited and foreign nationals have been detained and charged.
  • Do not drink alcohol in public. There are no exceptions.

Photography

Photography near military and other government installations is strictly prohibited in Iran, and foreign nationals have been detained and charged under national security laws. These are Iranian laws that apply everywhere in public, not customs of this festival. They are recorded here because the observance happens outdoors, where they bind a visitor. Away from those sites, ask people before photographing them.

Dress

In public places women must cover their heads with a headscarf and wear trousers or a floor-length skirt with a long-sleeved tunic or coat reaching mid-thigh or knee; men should wear long trousers and long-sleeved shirts. These are Iranian laws that apply everywhere in public, not customs of this festival. They are recorded here because the observance happens outdoors, where they bind a visitor.

Where it happens

Only the surrounding area is published for this location.

  • Iran

    General area only

  • Isfahan & Yazd

    General area only

Sources

Short code

ir-970m0

A short, stable identifier for this entry, printed on cards and quotable anywhere.