Sadeh
The midwinter fire festival, 50 days before Nowruz.
Sadeh is celebrated on 10 Bahman in the Iranian solar calendar, usually January 30 and sometimes January 29 or 31, fifty days before Nowruz.
When Is Sadeh?
Sadeh is celebrated on 10 Bahman in the Iranian solar calendar, usually January 30 and sometimes January 29 or 31, fifty days before Nowruz.
Because the Gregorian date changes from year to year, check a calendar published by the tradition or your local community for this year's date.
Why It Matters
Sadeh ("hundred") falls 50 days before Nowruz, its name traditionally referring to the 50 days and 50 nights (one hundred in all) remaining until the new year. According to the Shahnameh, it celebrates the discovery and harnessing of fire by the mythical Persian king Hushang, and the power of light to overcome winter darkness.
How It Is Observed
Large bonfires lit at dusk, gathering around the fire, music and celebration, prayers to Ahura Mazda. The bonfire symbolizes the power of light over darkness.