Feast of the 26th · Bist-o-Shish Eyd-e Ma

Culture of origin: Mazandarani · Cultural

Holiday sources: Iran · Mazandarani

On the 26th of the Tabari month of Nowruz ma, which falls on 28 Tir, villages across Mazandaran keep the Feast of the 26th, also called Mardale Eyd, the feast of the dead. Local tradition ties it to Fereydun's binding of Zahhak on Mount Damavand, news of which was spread by night fires; families bring food to their dead's graves, and Lucho, Mazandaran's traditional wrestling, is held. In the villages the ceremonies run from the last ten days of Tir up to 28 Tir, and the feast was registered as national intangible heritage in 1395 SH. Iranica, which records it in Kojur in early September, suggests it is a remnant of the ancient Frawardigan.