Nature Day

Nature Day, on Farvardin 13, closes the formal Nowruz period. It is widely known as Sizdah Bedar, a tradition in which families leave their homes for parks, gardens, riversides and countryside picnics. The celebration makes springtime tangible: new growth, open air and a shared meal become the point of the day.

Some popular customs are playful, such as tying blades of sabzeh to express a wish before returning them to flowing water. The holiday is often described as old and pre-Islamic in spirit, but it is lived as a modern public day too—urban parks fill, roads become busy and families create their own version of an annual outdoor ritual.

The name Nature Day is the official calendar identity, while Sizdah Bedar remains the widely recognised popular name. Customs are diverse and should not be reduced to the claim that thirteen is simply unlucky; scholars and families offer several explanations for the outdoor practice. Municipal authorities prepare parks, traffic routes and waste services for exceptionally heavy use. Responsible observance now includes fire safety, protection of vegetation and taking litter home, ensuring that a celebration of nature does not damage the places people visit.