What it means
سیزدهبدر (sizdah-be-dar) names the thirteenth day of the Iranian new year, when families spend the entire day outdoors picnicking. The name means “thirteen-out”, the day to be outside on the thirteenth.
What happens
Iranians believe the thirteenth day brings bad luck if spent indoors, so families pack lunches and head to parks, riversides, gardens, and natural spaces. The day is a national holiday in Iran, falling on April 1 or 2 each year. The sabze (sprouts) grown for Nowruz are tossed into running water, letting the year’s misfortunes flow away.
How to use it
- سیزدهبدر کجا میرویم؟ (sizdah-be-dar kojâ miravim?) “Where will we go for Sizdah-be-dar?”
- هر سال سیزدهبدر در پارک هستیم (har sâl sizdah-be-dar dar pârk hastim) “Every year on Sizdah-be-dar we are in the park”
Cultural elements
- All-day outdoor picnic
- Sabze (sprouts) tossed into running water
- Knot-tying of grass blades for wishes (especially by young women)
- Family games, kebab cooking, music
- National holiday since 1925
Etymology
سیزده (sizdah) means “thirteen,” and بدر (be-dar) means “out, outside.” The compound is straightforwardly descriptive: the day to be outside on the thirteenth. The folklore around bad luck on the thirteenth day predates Islam and survives as one of Iran’s most popular holidays.
References
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