Traditionally, people gather firewood for days leading up to the festival. This collective effort not only strengthens social bonds but also embodies the spirit of collaboration. Once the fire is lit, the community comes together to sing, dance, recite prayers, and share stories.
Zoroastrian communities in provinces such as Kerman, Yazd, and Fars have upheld these traditions for centuries. In modern times, Sadeh is also celebrated in cities and villages beyond Iran, including those in the United States, Australia, and Sweden, where Iranian diaspora communities keep the tradition alive.
In the Zoroastrian calendar, Sadeh coincides with the day of Mehr in the month of Bahman. However, historical sources such as Abu Rayhan Biruni’s writings also mention Aban as the corresponding month.
Regional Variations and Customs
Different regions have their unique ways of celebrating Sadeh, reflecting local traditions and cultural influences:
- Nomadic Traditions in Sirjan and Baft: Among the nomadic communities of Sirjan and Baft, a special bonfire ritual is performed using forty branches of pruned trees, symbolizing the forty days leading up to the “Great Fire.” During this ceremony, people chant:
A century of peasants / Forty burning logs / It is still as if it were winter.