Farvardin

Farvardin is the first month of the Solar Hijri calendar, the official calendar of Iran and Afghanistan. It consists of 31 days and begins with Nowruz, the Iranian New Year, which occurs on the vernal equinox around March 20 or 21. The month ends around April 19 or 20, depending on the year's alignment with the equinox.

The name Farvardin is derived from the Avestan term associated with the Fravashi (guardian spirits) in Zoroastrian tradition. In the ancient Iranian calendar, the month was linked to these divine beings, a connection reflected in the continuation of the name in the present solar calendar.

In the contemporary usage, Farvardin marks the start of spring and the broader Nowruz celebrations, which commonly include spring cleaning, visiting family, and various cultural rituals that extend through the month. The first thirteen days are particularly festive in many communities, culminating in Sizdah Be-dar, a day spent outdoors to celebrate the natural world.

Calendar structure in use today places Farvardin as the first of six 31-day months, followed by a sequence of months with 30 days and the final month Esfand with 29 days in common years (30 in leap years). This system keeps the solar year in alignment with the seasons, making Farvardin a key anchor of cultural and agricultural life in the region.

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