Sadeh

The discovery of fire

According to Persian myth, the legendary ruler King Hushang founded the custom. While ascending a mountain, he hurled a flint stone at a snake. The rock struck another stone, generating sparks that ignited the first flame. Rejoicing at the revelation of fire, Hushang praised God for this gift of divine light and commanded people to venerate it. Historically dating back to the Achaemenid Empire, the festival has long highlighted the sacredness of fire, energy, and warmth. In early Zoroastrian theology, this holy light is understood to dwell within the hearts of all living beings.

Bonfires and community circles

Preparations traditionally begin with collecting fuel for the pyre. In Zoroastrian custom, young men journey into nearby desert hills to harvest camel thorn shrubs, marking a recognized passage toward adult life. At sunset, families and neighbors assemble around large wood piles in open grounds or temple courtyards. After prayers, the fire is set alight. Participants hold hands to create wide circles, dancing around the blaze and singing. In past centuries, women carried embers back to revive their own hearth fires, sharing the temple blessing across each home.

Feasting and donations

Sharing meals forms a vital part of the gathering. Communities prepare stews and roasted dishes made from sacrificial lamb, beef, or poultry, distributing generous portions to those in need. In historical times, festivities extended over three full days with lavish royal banquets, fireworks displays, and music. In tenth-century Isfahan, ruler Mardavij arranged grand bonfires along both banks of the Zayandeh River, freeing flocks of birds into illuminated night skies. Today, public feasts and outdoor gatherings continue to bring people together over plates of warm roasted meat and donated food.

Modern observances

Sadeh remains an official observance in Tajikistan and is kept widely across Iran, especially in Yazd, Kerman, and Tehran. Zoroastrians hold dedicated ceremonies at sites such as the Chak-Chak mountain shrine near Yazd, where legend says a royal princess sought sanctuary in the seventh century. For many modern Iranians of various backgrounds, the holiday offers a secular occasion to honor ancestral heritage and the cycle of nature. In recent years, public gatherings and rooftop fires have taken place in dozens of cities, uniting local neighborhoods in joint celebration.

How Sadeh is kept

On the eve of Sadeh, participants gather desert brush and firewood. As dusk falls, people assemble in open spaces, public parks, or fire temples. Religious prayers are recited before the central woodpile is ignited. Once the bonfire blazes, men and women join hands, forming large rings to dance and sing beside the flames. Afterward, families share festive meals of roasted lamb, chicken, and beef, while donating cooked portions to neighbors and the poor.

When and where

Sadeh falls on 10 Bahman in the Iranian solar calendar, which corresponds to 29, 30, or 31 January. The date occurs exactly fifty days, or one hundred combined days and nights, before the Persian New Year at the spring equinox.

The festival is celebrated across Iran, with notable observances in Yazd, Kerman, Tehran, and Isfahan, as well as at the Chak-Chak fire temple. It is also officially observed in Tajikistan and within Iranian diaspora communities abroad.

What Sadeh means

Sadeh represents the power of warmth and light against winter frost and darkness. The name signifies the hundred days and nights until spring. The blaze symbolizes divine illumination, the revival of the sun, and protection for sleeping plant roots. The undying flame also stands for deep devotion to ancestral lands and the triumph of life over destruction.

On the table

• Roasted lamb
• Roasted beef
• Roasted chicken

Days Sadeh is marked

Sadeh dates: 2026, 2027, 2028

Questions people ask about Sadeh

See also

NowruzThe Iranian new year at the March equinox, kept with fire, greenery and picnicsYaldā NightA solstice night of poetry, fruit and family, kept from Iran through Central AsiaChaharshanbe SuriAn Iranian festival of fire and renewal celebrated on the eve of the final Wednesday before spring.Sizdah BedarAn open-air picnic holiday concluding the Iranian New Year celebrations

Good reading and sources

• اولین جشن رسمی سده در تاجیکستانBBC, Article
• Sadeh/Sada celebrationUNESCO, Heritage listing
• Celebrating the Sadeh festivalDawn, Article
• اولین جشن رسمی سده در تاجیکستانBBC, Article
• Sadeh/Sada celebrationUNESCO, Article
• Celebrating the Sadeh festivalDawn, Article

• Sadeh on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos and video
• Wikidata recordOpen data

It may contain mistakes. Traditions differ from one family, village and community to the next, and the people who keep them know them best. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-04.