Autumn and Winter Festivals; A Heritage from the Heart of History
- Zohreh Khosravi
- 4 months ago
Festivals, from the dawn of history to the present day, have always brought moments of joy and excitement to people’s lives; moments that created opportunities for hearts to draw closer and for life to take on a fresh, vibrant color. From the depths of ancient cultures to modern expressions, every festival showcases its unique beauty and presents new experiences. National, religious, and cultural festivals, with their customs and traditions, create moments that remain in memory. With its story, every celebration revives the spirit of life and reminds us that joy is an inseparable part of human existence.
Festivals are the legacy of our ancestors; an inheritance passed down from our forefathers and mothers to us and from us to the generations to come. As autumn and winter arrive, when people took a break from the hard work of the summer, it was the perfect time to come together, to unearth the ancient rituals buried deep within the layers of history, and to dust off the treasure that we call ‘intangible heritage’ – the ancient celebrations that are not only a reason for joy but also held a story beyond them. Here, we will introduce the most important ancient celebrations of autumn and winter in flysepehran blog.
Halloween is a thousand-year-old celebration that originated from the ancient rituals of the Celtic people. The Celts lived in regions that today encompass Ireland and Scotland. They celebrated November first as the beginning of the New Year. This day referred to the end of hot summer and the beginning of cold winter; when nature fell asleep. The Celts believed that on the night of October 31st, the border between the world of the living and the dead was lifted, and spirits would return to the earth. Therefore, special rituals were held on this night.
In today’s world, Halloween has become more of an exciting celebration than a tradition to honor the spirits of the dead. In many countries around the globe, people wear scary or fantasy-themed costumes on Halloween night, distribute candy and sweets, and celebrate the night with a mix of fear, excitement, and fun.
The most important symbol of Halloween is the decorated pumpkin, known as the “Jack-o’-lantern.” The story of the Jack-o’-lantern traces back to a legend about a man named Jack who made a deal with the devil. As a result, he was neither allowed into heaven nor hell. He was condemned to wander in darkness for eternity with only a pumpkin lantern to light his way. On Halloween night, people carve out the inside of a pumpkin, place a candle inside, and decorate their homes with these glowing pumpkins.
In ancient Iranian tradition, the longest night of the year is seen as a moment for the rebirth of the sun. According to this belief, in the heart of the darkness and cold of the last night of autumn, Mithra emerges from a cave in the Alborz Mountains, bringing the sun and light back to the world with his appearance. Therefore, Yalda Night symbolizes the birth of light and hope after a period of darkness, marking the beginning of brightness and the start of a new season.
On this night, Iranian families gather to celebrate the longest night of the year with kindness and love, creating a warm and pleasant atmosphere to forget the cold of winter. The Yalda table is adorned with ruby-red pomegranates, sweet watermelons, and colorful nuts. Elders recount ancient Iranian legends and share the epic stories of the Shahnameh. Another tradition of Yalda Night is reading Hafez’s poetry, bringing hope and optimism to those who receive a horoscope.
In ancient times, with the dawn of the day after the longest night of the year, the kings of Iran would set aside their crowns and thrones, don white clothing, and go out to the plains to sit on a white carpet. On this day, palace guards and servants were also free, and their lives carried on as usual. Iranians, wherever they are in the world, celebrate Yalda, honoring it as a symbol of transformation and light.
The New Year’s Day is celebration is one of the oldest festivities worldwide; in many countries with various customs and traditions. The night of December 31 is the end of the current year and the first day of January is the beginning of the New Year. In many countries, the moment of entering the New Year Begins with a countdown of the final seconds, followed by fireworks displays, filling the atmosphere with excitement and joy.
The New Year’s traditions in different countries are celebrated in unique ways, rooted in the local culture of each nation. In Spain, people eat 12 grapes at midnight, symbolizing good luck for the 12 months ahead. In Japan, temple bells are rung 108 times to cleanse impure thoughts and welcome the New Year with a peaceful mind. In Italy, wearing red clothing is a symbol of good fortune, while in Brazil, wearing in white symbolizes peace and tranquility on The New Year’s Eve. In Greece, Eastern Europe, and the Balkans, the New Year is celebrated by cutting a cake called “Vasilopita.”; a coin is hidden inside, and whoever finds the coin is believed to have good luck in the coming year.
The customs and traditions of the New Year reflect the cultural diversity of people worldwide as they welcome the New Year. New Year’s Day is an opportunity for celebration, visiting friends and family, and traveling, but also a perfect time to reflect on the past year and set goals for the year ahead.
Chinese New Year is an ancient heritage of the Chinese people, celebrated with great enthusiasm throughout the country and in every part of the world where people of Chinese descent reside. This event is known as the “Spring Festival.” The date of the Chinese New Year is not fixed and changes every year based on the Chinese lunar calendar. As a result, the New Year celebration occurs on different dates each year, typically between late January and mid-February. The festivities, which coincide with the new moon, last for 15 days and feature unique traditions and ancient rituals.
One of the most important customs of Chinese New Year is cleaning the houses, as if people are not only removing dust but also driving away all the misfortunes and problems of the past year. Streets and homes are decorated with red, which symbolizes happiness and success, and banners with hopeful messages are placed on doors and walls.
The vibrant dragon and lion dance ceremonies are among the most exciting parts of this celebration. The dragon and lion, symbols of good luck and protection against evil spirits, come to life with the sound of drums and fireworks. While these events create an atmosphere filled with excitement, they also carry a spiritual aspect, intertwined with driving away evil and welcoming good fortune. Alongside these ceremonies, family members gather together. As a long-standing tradition, elders give red envelopes containing money to the younger generation. These envelopes symbolize wealth and prosperity for the recipients.
In the ancient civilization of Iran, February 24th was dedicated to celebrating “Sepandarmaz,” the goddess of the earth and the guardian of women. This day symbolized love and respect for women and the earth; the people of ancient Iran considered the earth to be a symbol of birth and love. They believed that the earth, with its humility and holiness, nurtured humans in its loving embrace, just like a mother.
On this day, known as “Sepandarmazgan,” men would appreciate women for their love. This celebration honored women as symbols of fertility and birth and reminded us of their role in the family and society. Abu Rayhan al-Biruni, a great Iranian scholar, clearly highlighted the importance of this day in his work, al-Athar al-Baqiyah, referring to it as “the day of women and earth”. According to the beliefs of ancient Iranians, men with their wisdom and women with their love would live together for growth and prosperity. This celebration symbolizes their deep connection and serves as a reminder of the high value of love, respect, and solidarity within the family.
Sepandarmazgan is very similar to Valentine’s Day, with the difference that it emphasizes the importance of love and loyalty to women, as well as the conservation of the earth and nature. Although this festival was once forgotten, in recent years, it has been revived in the hearts and beliefs of the Iranian people, becoming an opportunity to appreciate women and strengthen family relationships.
In the culture of Persian-speaking communities, there is nothing more beautiful than bidding farewell to winter with a celebration and welcoming the arrival of spring with joy? The ancient celebration of Nowruz is born at the end of the cold winter, in the embrace of the green spring. This celebration also marks the beginning of the New Year in the solar calendar.
Nowruz, which is on March 21st and marks the beginning of spring, is an international celebration. More than 300 million people in the Balkans, the Black Sea region, the Caucasus, Central Asia, the Middle East, and other parts of the world have been celebrating Nowruz for over 3,000 years.
On the eve of this ancient festival, people clean their houses to remove sadness from their hearts. After tidying up, they adorn their homes, and there is no better decoration than the Haftsin table, with each item holding a special meaning: Sabzeh (sprouted wheat or other grains) symbolizes fertility, hyacinth represents love, Samanu signifies abundance, and other items like apples, vinegar, and garlic convey a message of vitality to every Iranian household.
Nowruz is an opportunity for family gatherings; during these days, people visit one another, reviving their relationships. Children celebrate the holiday with enthusiasm, while adults sincerely wish each other the best. Nowruz is the intangible heritage of Iranians and many other nations around the world. It values the arrival of spring and the rebirth of nature, promoting reconciliation and solidarity among nations and communities.
We discussed autumn and winter celebrations and looked at important world events from the beginning of autumn to the end of winter. Each of these is an opportunity to honor the precious heritage passed down to us from the distant past. If you’re planning to travel in autumn or explore in winter, book your flight tickets and services here: flysepehran.com/en
