Fire Festival

Jashn-e sadeh is the ancient festival of the discovery of fire, which is still celebrated on the tenth of Bahman (January 30 or 31) in Iran. According to Ferdowsi’s Shahnameh, “One day Hushang and a group of his companions were on their way to the mountains when suddenly in the distance a terrifying, black serpent appeared, coming swiftly toward them. Two red eyes glowed on its head and smoke billowed from its mouth. Bravely, nimbly, Hushang seized a rock, dashed forward, and flung it at the serpent with all his strength. Before the rock reached him, the serpent writhed to one side, and the rock struck against another rock. As the two smashed against one another, sparks spurted forth in every direction, so that the landscape was lit up in brilliant splendor. Although the serpent escaped, the secret of fire had been revealed. Hushang gave thanks to the world’s Creator, saying, ‘This splendor is a divine splendor; we must revere it and rejoice in its presence.’ When night fell he gave orders that his men produce sparks from rock in the same manner. They lit a huge fire, and in honor of the divine splendor that had been revealed to Hushang, they instituted a festival of rejoicing. This is called the Sadeh festival, and it was celebrated with great reverence by the ancient Iranians, and the custom is still observed as a memorial of that night.”