- There are three
different calendars used in Iran.
- The most common
calendar which is used on a daily basis is solar calendar. Nowruz
- Persian New Year is a National Holiday and is based on solar
calendar.
- The solar
calendar has 365 days divided into 12 months. There are similarity
between Gregorian and solar calendar with the exception that the first 6
months of the year have 31 days, the next five have 30 days and the last
month has 29 days (30 days in leap year). The start of this calendar is
from the first day of spring of the Hegira (622 AD). Hegira or Hegrat is
the flight of the Prophet Mohammad from Mecca in 622 AD. This is the
starting point of Moslem lunar calendar and solar calendar. To convert
this calendar to the approximate date in Gregorian calendar simply add
621 to the Iranian year.
- The months of
the solar calendar are as follows: Farvardin (March 21- April 20),
Ordibehesht (April 21-May 21), Khordad (May 22-June 21), Tir (June
22-July 22), Mordad (July 23-August 22), Shahrivar (August 23-September
22), Mehr (September 23-October 22), Aban (October 23-November 21), Azar
(November 22-December 21), Dey (December 22- January 20), Bahman
(January 21-February 19), and Esfand (February 20-March
20).
- Lunar calendar
is also in use for religious purposes and holidays. This calendar also
has 12 months but only has 354 days. Because of this difference, the gap
between the solar and lunar calendar is constantly growing (33 lunar
years are equal to 32 solar years). Presently, there is about 42 year
difference between the two calendar although both have the same year of
origin.
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- The months of
lunar calendar are as follows: Moharram, Safar, Rabi-ol-Av val,
Rabi-ol-Akhar or Rabi-ol-sani, Jamadi-ol-Av val, Jamadi-ol-Akhar,
Rajab, Shaban, Ramadan (Ramezan), Shav val , Zi-Ghadeh, and Zi-Hajjeh. Since the lunar
calendar is based on the visibility of the new moon, there is a one
day difference between the big religious festivals in Iran and in
other Islamic countries. The new moon usually appears a day later in
Iran.
- Western or
Gregorian calendar is used for dealing with western travelers. Some
history books may also use this calendar.
RELIGIOUS -
MUSLIM (MOSLEM) CALENDAR
- In Islamic
calendar which is based on lunar calendar, there are 3 holy
months.
- One is month of Ramadan
(Ramezan). During this month, muslims fast from dawn to dusk. This is
an opportunity to cleanse body and mind. Muslims who are exempt from
fasting are pregnant women, sick people, people who feel are unable to
keep the fast, elderly, young children, and travelers.
- If you do not
fast during this month, for respect of others you refrain from eating,
drinking, smoking in front of others who fast.
- Eid-E-Fitr is a
religious holiday which is the day after end of Ramadan.
On this day you break your fasting and celebrate.
- The other two holy months are Moharram and Safar. The 10th day
of Moharram is called Ashura, the anniversary
of the martyrdom of Imam
Hossein, the third Shiite Saint.
- 20th and 21st
of Safar is Arbaeen which is the 40th day after death of Imam Hossein.
Muslims mourn during these two months in memory of Imam Hossein. People
wear black during these times.
www.shiasearch.net
, www.al-shia.com , www.shiasource.com
, www.amaana.org ,www.convertstoislam.com
, www.hawzah.net , www.belagh.net
, www.fabanonline.com ,www.ic-el.org
,www.iiny.org , www.ahlul.org
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