Sadeh

Djashn -e Sadeh (Persian جشن سده ), and Sadeh, Sada - or, is an ancient Iranian African festival that is celebrated 50 days before Nowruz, the Persian New Year. Sad means " hundred " and stands for the 50 days and 50 nights that will pass until the new year yet, and in a further respect for one hundred days, which since the beginning of the Iranian "big winter " Zayana have passed. The Sadeh festival is a midwinter festival, which is celebrated with large bonfires. With the festival the importance of fire to humans, but also the victory of light over darkness is celebrated.

Genesis

Sadeh goes back to Huschang, the second king of the mythical Pischdadier. Huschang reigned for forty years as Padishah. He continued the construction begun by Gayomarth of human civilization. Huschang discovered by chance by a stone after a snake, where the stone struck on a rock and hit a spark, the secret of how fire can be done with the help of stones. As a result of this knowledge it was possible for him to produce with the help of fire from iron ore, from which Axes, hatchets and saws could be produced. To keep the immediate value of fire to humans in memory and honor also the reflection of God in the fire, Huschang donated a festival which he called the Sadeh Festival. For the ancient Persian religion of Zoroastrianism, the fire is a symbol of purity, knowledge, and the light in the center of a cult. In a Zoroastrian temple, therefore, is a fire that will never go out.

The Sadeh Festival in Shahnameh

The Iranian national poet Ferdosi has the establishment of this feast by Huschang as a festival of fire and light in the Iranian national epic Shahnameh described as follows:

The world before the Lord, who created the world, Brought prayer is gratitude and reputation, That such light line he gave; Then the fire of the guiding ' he gave, Speaking: "A divine radiance that is, The bet on, if you are wise. " At night stokes ' he fire bergeshoh, The Shah and the people circled the Loh. A feast was through the night, drinking wine was: Sede should be the name of the feast. Sede stayed Hoscheng 's remembrance; May God give him a lot of princes equal to us.

Sadeh in Iran today

Even today, the Sadeh Festival is celebrated in Iran. Large festivals especially in Kermanshah and Yazd, where still home to a large Zoroastrian community. In the situated near Yazd mountains lies a cave that bears the name of Chak Chak. In this cave takes place every year a ceremony for Sadeh Festival.