Iranian Holidays

The Iranian calendar is one of the most accurate calendars in the world in terms of the solar year. It begins on the spring equinox (Noruz). The first six months have 31 days, the next five have 30, and the last has 29 except during leap year.

Holidays such as Noruz follow the solar year, which aligns with the Gregorian calendar, plus or minus a day.

Iran’s religious holidays follow the Islamic Al-Hijra calendar. The Islamic calendar is about 355 days long so Islamic holidays fall approximately 10-11 days earlier each succeeding Gregorian year. By Muslim law, there is no intercalary or “leap” period. Thus, the Islamic calendar comes full circle (with the solar year) every 33 years.

 

National Holidays: 

Revolution Day (Bahman 22; February 11)

Oil Nationalization Day (Esfand 29; March 20)

Noruz (Farvardin 1; March 21)

Republic Day (Farvardin 12; April 1-2)

Death of Imam Khomeini (Khordad 14; June 4)

National Uprising Day (Khordad 15; June 5)

Constitutional Monarchy Day (August 5)

 

Islamic Holidays:

Tasua (9th of Muharram; day before Ashura)

Ashoura / Martyrdom of Imam Hussein (10th of Muharram)

Arbaeen (20th of Safar; 40th day after Ashura)

Death of the Prophet Mohammed & Martyrdom of Imam Hassan (28th of Safar)

Martyrdom of Imam Reza (30th of Safar)

Birthday of the Prophet Mohammed and Imam Sadegh (12th of Rabi-al-Awwal)

Death of Fatimah (3rd of Jumada-ol-Thani)

Birthday of Imam Ali (13th of Rajab)

Night of Destiny, Night of Power (27th of Ramadan)

Ascension of the Prophet (27th of Rajab)

Month of Ramadan

Martyrdom of Imam Ali (21st of Ramadan)

Eid al-Fitr (end of Ramadan)

Feast of the Sacrifice / Eid al-Adha (10th of Dhu al-Hijjah)

Eid al-Ghadeer (18th of Dhu al-Hijjah)

 

Other Holidays:

Nature Day / Sizdah Bedar (April 2)

Urs of Rumi (December 17) 

Yalda (December 21)

 

Iranian Calendar months:

1. Farvardin (March 21 – April 20)
2. Ordibehesht (April 21 – May 21)
3. Khordad (May 22 – June 21)
4. Tir (June 22 – July 22)
5. Mordad (July 23 – August 22)
6. Shahrivar (August 23 – September 22)
7. Mehr (September 23 – October 22)
8. Aban (October 23 – November 21)
9. Azar (November 22 – December 21)
10. Day (December 22 – January 20)
11. Bahman (January 21 – February 19)
12. Esfand (February 20 – March 20)

Islamic Calendar months:

1. Muharram
2. Safar
3. Rabi al-awwal
4. Rabi al-thani
5. Jumada al-awwal
6. Jumada al-thani
7. Rajab
8. Sha’aban
9. Ramadan
10. Shawwal
11. Dhu al-Qidah
12. Dhu al-Hijjah