Sizdah Bedar
The Thirteenth Day
Nowruz is commonly celebrated for thirteen days, with the first day being Nowruz (the spring equinox) and the last day being Sizdah Bedar or "getting rid of thirteen." In Iranian culture thirteen is considered an unlucky number and therefore this day of festivities is used as a way to bring in the positive new year and to get rid of bad luck and negativity; this is done by gathering with friends and family for a picnic outdoors with food, music, games, and practical jokes. It is also a day for celebrators to connect with nature and the outdoors.
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Not much is known about the significance of this festival, in fact some sources say there is little to no reference of a 13th day of Nowruz in historical documents past the Qajar dynasty of the eighteenth to twentieth centuries, while others state that Sizdah Bedar is a long standing tradition dating back to the Achaemenid empire (550-330 BCE).
Despite some discrepancies in the exact origin of this custom, Sizdah Bedar is an important part of the Nowruz tradition in many parts of the world.
Knotting and releasing the greens.
It is common practice on Sizdah Bedar to toss the Sabzeh that was placed on the Haft-Sin table into a body of moving water.
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Knotting the stems of the greens is a customary ritual done primarily by young single people, usually women. The knot symbolizes a wish to find a partner in the new year.
