The Sadeh Festival: An Ancient Iranian Celebration of Fire
The Sadeh Festival, celebrated on the evening of the 10th of Bahman in the Iranian calendar, is one of the oldest and most significant traditional Iranian festivals. With its roots stretching back thousands of years, even predating Nowruz, Sadeh is often regarded as the celebration of the birth of fire. According to Persian mythology and Ferdowsi’s epic Shahnameh, the festival’s origins are linked to the reign of Houshang Shah, the second king of the Pishdadian dynasty.
Mythological Origins of Sadeh
In ancient Iranian mythology, King Houshang Shah discovered fire while hunting. As the story goes, he encountered a long black snake and, in an attempt to kill it, threw a stone at it. The stone struck another rock, producing a spark that ignited nearby dry bushes. This accidental discovery of fire was seen as a divine gift to humanity, and from that moment, Iranians regarded fire as sacred, preserving and venerating it in temples and celebrations. The festival of Sadeh thus commemorates this pivotal moment, marking the significance of fire in Iranian culture and spirituality.