Sizdah Be-Dar is traditionally held on the 13th and final day of Nowruz (Persian New Year) to welcome the coming of spring. Also known as Nature’s Day, Sizdah Be-Dar is a celebration of joy and spring’s renewal. Friends and family gather in nature to share a picnic, play games, listen to music and dance. It is believed that spending time outside on this day will ward off evil spirits and bring good luck for the coming year.
Some 50 people came together in community at ?iyuls / Cliff Gilker Park on April 6 to keep this tradition alive. An important part of the festivities includes tossing a sheaf of sabzeh (wheat grass) into flowing water to make a wish for good fortune and to release negative energy. At left, guests gather as Kia explains the meaning of the sabzeh.
