Sizdeh

Sizdeh is the Persian word for the number thirteen, transliterated from سیزده. In Persian usage, sizdah denotes the thirteen of a given month and appears in dates, counts, and everyday speech as part of the traditional numeral system that extends from yek (1) to dah (10) and beyond.

In cultural contexts, sizdah is most closely associated with the thirteenth day of Nowruz, the Persian New Year. This day is commonly referred to as Sizdah Bedar (the day of getting rid of the thirteenth) and is observed as a national or regional holiday in Iran and by Persian-speaking communities. On Sizdah Bedar, people traditionally leave their homes to spend the day outdoors, often picnicking in parks or natural settings, as part of a broader practice to celebrate spring and to dispel misfortune associated with the number 13.

Linguistically, sizdah derives from combining three and ten in Persian numerals, reflecting a common pattern in Indo-Iranian languages for forming numbers in the teens. While sizdah is primarily a numeric term, it also appears in names or phrases related to the date within calendars and cultural narratives.

See also: Nowruz, Sizdah Bedar.