“from your Valentine” said the signature at the bottom of the letter, but it was too late. The confession did not save Valentine from the destiny chosen for him. Valentine was murdered and the story of his love remained to wrench the hearts of generations to come for centuries on-end, a love story that remained to be celebrated every year on February 14th. Love knows no boundaries; color, nationality, religion, age, etc. have no say in the size and shape of the love we feel for one another. While Valentine’s Day is the most popular celebration of love worldwide, it is not the only celebration where love champions. Many ancient nations have their own festival of love. Stay with us as you’re about to hear the amazing story of Persian festival of love culture.
Even though Iranians celebrate Valentine’s Day, they also venerate Sepandar Mazgan, the Persian festival of love, on the fifth day of Esfand (the twelfth month of the year) in Zoroastrian Calendar. The ancient ceremony has its roots in Zoroastrian religion and dates back to the Achaemenid Era. In ancient Iran, in addition to the months, each day was also called by a name, and when the two names coincided, a celebration was held. As such, the fifth day of every month was called Sepandarmaz or Esfand and the twelfth month of the year was called with the same name. So on that particular date Iranians celebrated Sepandar Mazgan.
As a symbol of the earth, Sepandarmaz was the deity of the Earth, associated with abundance and generosity as it gives life to all equally. He was also believed to be the guardian of married women. Therefore, the festival also symbolized fertility and motherhood. On this day, women were venerated and treated as queens and received gifts from their husbands. Traditionally, Sepandar Mazgan was celebrated on fifth of Esfand in Zoroastrian Calendar. Nowadays, in the solar calendar, the festival falls on the 29th of Bahman (the eleventh month of the year).
Be it the memory of a brave lover or a celebration of countless blessings, what makes us more rooted in humanity is the feeling of love. So let it be celebrated every day.
