Iranians celebrated ‘Sizdah Bedar’, the Persian Nature Day, this Thursday with picnics in parks and in the countryside, despite the war with the United States and Israel and the daily bombings.
‘Sizdah Bedar’ is one of the most popular, joyful and colorful Persian festivals in Iran and takes place on the 13th day of the month of Farwardin in the Iranian calendar, marking the end of the Noruz holiday, the Persian New Year, which began on March 19.
Thousands of Iranians practically moved their living rooms today to parks, squares or the countryside to spend the day eating, playing, resting and enjoying the outdoors to eliminate all negative thoughts and go outside to get away from bad luck next year.
One of those places was the Mellat park in the north of Tehran, where many families gathered, although perhaps in fewer numbers than in previous years, something motivated by the conflict that has been going on for 34 days.
“We take advantage of Nature Day to take the children to the park, so they can play for a while, have fun and relax,” Mohsen, a 38-year-old painter, tells EFE.
Mohsen says that the first days of the war they were scared by the bombings, especially the children, but after more than a month he assures that they have gotten used to it. “We have to get on with life. We can’t be locked up at home until the war ends, since no one knows exactly when it will end,” he says.
Arsalan, a 48-year-old accountant, also assures that he is not afraid and that he has gone out to the park “like every year, to have a good time with the family on this day that is important for every Iranian.” Furthermore, he considers that his country has strong armed forces that will provide an adequate response to the United States and Israel: “Iran will win,” he assures.
In the park there are entire families, they play badminton and prepare barbecues, all in a relaxed atmosphere. Traditions are also carried out, such as planting a tree and making “knots” with sprouts of cereals and legumes, plants that Iranian families have in their homes since the first day of the Persian year (March 21) and that symbolize rebirth, to make a wish.